Mobile giant Blackberry has launched a 'Classic' phone which goes back to their basic roots with a full QUERTY keyboard.
The move is not designed to lure in new customers but more to maintain the old ones.
Carolina Milanesi, an analyst for Kantar Worldpanel, said, "This is more about avoiding more people leaving than necessarily winning many over. I have a hard time thinking that people who grew up on touch will see this as an exciting 'retro' trend and embrace it."
The Blackberry Classic has an eight-megapixel camera on its reverse and, as well as the physical keyboard, the device can be controlled via its 3.5-inch touchscreen.
Rob Kerr, mobiles expert at Uswitch.com, said, "Knowing your strengths and recognising your weaknesses could be Blackberry's way back from the brink. Like its Passport phone, the mobile maker has gone back to its roots with the Classic - furnishing it with the physical keyboard that so many appreciate in the touchscreen era.
"Keyboard phones were always its strong point and this true return to form hails back to Blackberry's glory days. Although this handset is unlikely to capture the once strong youth market, businesses might once again come back to the fold."
WENN.com
source: newshub archive
