The BlackBerry Classic is classic BlackBerry. No one else would have placed all their bets on a QWERTY keyboard for a 2014 smartphone. But BlackBerry knows that if people will stay with it or come back it has to be for the keyboard, and of course the extra layer of security.
So announcing the latest smartphone from the Canadian company Executive Chairman and CEO John Chen said: “BlackBerry Classic is the powerful communications tool that many BlackBerry Bold and Curve users have been waiting for. It’s the secure device that feels familiar in their hands, with the added performance and agility they need to be competitive in today’s busy world.”
BlackBerry claims its newest creation has a three times faster browser, 60 per cent more screen space and 50 per cent longer battery life than the BlackBerry Bold 9900 which it will replace.
For BlackBerry loyalists, the phone wil bring back the trackpad and classic navigation keys. Plus, the new BlackBerry 10 web browser, the company claims, is among the fastest around. The phone will feature a 3.5-inch touch screen display with 294 dpi HD resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for greater durability. The 2515 mAh battery can offer up to 22 hours of life.
However, the phone will have a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor which, on paper, might seem a bit underpowered for some users. There will be 2GB RAM and 16GB of device storage (expandable by up to 128GB). The 8MP rear-facing camera has enhanced optics and upgraded imaging sensor while the front 2MP camera will be good for BBM video calls.
The phone will feature the BlackBerry 10 OS version 10.3.1 with BlackBerry Blend and BlackBerry Assistant, the two software enhancements the company is looking at as differentiators from the rest of the pack.
The phone is priced $449 globally and will be launched in India in the coming weeks. We expect the phone to be priced around Rs 30,000.
