BlackBerry, once the definition of a smartphone, has lost most of its market since the advancement of Apple and Google’s mobile ecosystems. It tried its hand at touchscreen phones but didn’t manage to create a whole lot of buzz. It seems like, in a desperate attempt to stay valid in the touchscreen era, BlackBerry is going back to its roots. The company will be releasing the new BlackBerry ‘Q20’ Classic, which will take it back to the ‘Bold’ era.
BlackBerry’s recent and unique release, the BlackBerry Passport, has given an inclination to go back to its traditional looks. Passport’s square display received mixed reviews but was appreciated for the unique features like the touch-enabled touchpad that lets you scroll through the pages with ease.
The ‘Q20’ Classic is expected to release later this year. The device will come with nostalgic features such as a top row of navigation keys and a trackpad. The phone will run on the BlackBerry 10 OS and will have a bigger screen than its predecessors. The company also claimed that their application catalog has grown over the years.
The company still has a steady following in the enterprise and government segment. These are the folks who want maximum utility off their devices so that the gadgets can assist them in their busy schedule.
BlackBerry’s CEO, John S. Chen, recently published an open letter for the loyal BlackBerry users to create a buzz for the upcoming Classic. Chen said in the letter, “It’s tempting in a rapidly changing, rapidly growing mobile market to change for the sake of change – to mimic what’s trendy and match the industry-standard, kitchen-sink approach of trying to be all things to all people. But there’s also something to be said for the classic adage, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” This statement signaled their return to their original design philosophy.
