The BlackBerry Classic smartphone is now available on Verizon’s network, and the device will be available for purchase at Verizon Wireless stores on March 5. Now Verizon customers looking for a QWERTY keypad phone can purchase the Classic at a discounted price.
BlackBerry Classic on Verizon, AT&T
At Verizon, the BlackBerry Classic will be available for $100 with usual two-year contract, including a $50 mail-in rebate debit card. The BlackBerry Classic is available through the Verizon Edge plan for $16.66 per month on 24 monthly installments, and the price without contract is $400.
The smartphone is packed with Android and BlackBerry apps to make life easier for users. The Classic runs on a 2500mAh battery that enables users to use a phone and its various apps for 22 hours. Also the power optimization mode stretches the battery life to allow users to go online even if the battery is low.
The BlackBerry Classic supports Verizon’s 4G LTE network and is XLTE ready, allowing users to use the faster network across the United States. Verizon XLTE is available in more than 400 markets across the United States.
Prior to Verizon, the BlackBerry Classic became available on AT&T’s network on Feb. 20. AT&T is selling Classic for $50 on a two-year contract and $420 off contract, and the unlocked device is priced at $449.
Quest to win back lost glory
BlackBerry has been trying hard to win back its past glory, and making partnerships with carriers is a part of its strategy to make its devices popular again. The smartphone maker took a steep decline from being a smartphone leader to becoming almost obsolete. In early 2006, before the debut of the first iPhone, half of all smartphones sold were BlackBerry models. By 2009, the company’s condition deteriorated, and the market share of the company dropped to around 20% and is currently hovering at around 0.5%.
However, after John Chen took over as CEO, BlackBerry has been able to achieve some stability. Its latest devices, the Passport and Classic, have been received well. To expand further, the Canadian firm is now focusing on the next the big thing: IoT.
On Thursday, BlackBerry shares closed up 2.38% at $10.76, while year to date, the stock is down by around 2%.
