BlackBerry hopes to rekindle sales by reintroducing classic keyboard & form factor
Hoping to strike a chord with old school BlackBerry users, the not quite dead company on Wednesday teased a new device called BlackBerry Classic, which appears to be a modern take on the seminal BlackBerry Bold.
Unveiled in an open letter from BlackBerry CEO John Chen, the upcoming BlackBerry Classic looks to be a throwback to RIM devices from the company's glory days, complete with trackpad, top-row navigation buttons and the familiar physical keyboard.
Aside from the traditional BlackBerry trappings, the Classic brings modern day technology like a larger high-resolution screen, buffed internals and the new BlackBerry 10 operating system. Chen touted the growing BlackBerry app library, as well as first-party software BlackBerry Hub and BlackBerry Blend, the latter of which acts very much like iOS 8's Continuity features.
Unveiled in an open letter from BlackBerry CEO John Chen, the upcoming BlackBerry Classic looks to be a throwback to RIM devices from the company's glory days, complete with trackpad, top-row navigation buttons and the familiar physical keyboard.
Aside from the traditional BlackBerry trappings, the Classic brings modern day technology like a larger high-resolution screen, buffed internals and the new BlackBerry 10 operating system. Chen touted the growing BlackBerry app library, as well as first-party software BlackBerry Hub and BlackBerry Blend, the latter of which acts very much like iOS 8's Continuity features.
The company has yet to reveal a full list of specifications and features, but put up a teaser webpage with a picture of the device's keyboard and lower screen area.Sure, we've got new BlackBerry devices that break the mold, including the BlackBerry Passport. But we also recognize that a lot of you continue to hang on to your Bold devices because they get the job done, day in and day out - just like you.
We get it, and we've got you covered.
Comments
I really didn't expect to see another phone from Blackberry, let alone a Bold replacement. They must expect this to keep the faithful in the ecosystem while they try and figure out something to actually make them grow. It was probably worth the effort to churn Bold owners off of their old devices alone. We will see if this gives them something to grow from.
With damn Square Phone? LOL. Last thing people want on their smartphone is physical keyboard. DOA, BB.
Maybe Blackberry should work with MCX and become the exclusive mobile platform for CurrentC.
BREAKING: BlackBerry to rename itself Research In Motion
BREAKING 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO!: Research In Motion to release even newer device
In other news, Nokia attempts to invigorate sales of its lagging Windows Phone platform by reintroducing "Snake".
I have heard some good things about the Blackberry Passport although I still think its going to be a flop.
Don't knock Snake... I used to play that for hours.
Naah, now that the patents on NewtonOS 1.0 are expired they're making the Newton BerryPad 2200.
With fax capability!
(I love my Newtons).
On London train/bus/tube and at business meetings I still see more battered old BBs with physical keyboards than touchscreens. A surprising number are BYOD. To these folk a phone means serious email plus a bit of voice - barometers and health apps have no appeal.
Add a proportion of iOS/Android users who are either bored or reject feature overreach and you have quite a significant market. To them a Classic BB handset will not be a leap of faith, it will be coming home.
Hoping to strike a chord with old school BlackBerry users, the not quite dead company on Wednesday teased a new device called BlackBerry Classic, which appears to be a modern take on the seminal BlackBerry Bold.
And the death spiral continues.
How much longer can it possibly last?
On London train/bus/tube and at business meetings I still see more battered old BBs with physical keyboards than touchscreens. A surprising number are BYOD. To these folk a phone means serious email plus a bit of voice - barometers and health apps have no appeal.
Add a proportion of iOS/Android users who are either bored or reject feature overreach and you have quite a significant market. To them a Classic BB handset will not be a leap of faith, it will be coming home.
A surprising number of people still ride horses.
To these folk a ride means galloping through the countryside - lithium-ion batteries and charging stations have no appeal.
Add a proportion of speed freaks who are either bored or reject motorcycle feature overreach and you have quite a significant market.
To them a classic leather saddle will not be a leap of faith, it will be coming home.
in other news, the typewriter is coming back.
I guess we got the "trick" on this one.
Oooh... Scary.
"Because you loved it so much, you abandoned it!!!!"