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WATERLOO, Ontario, July 5 (UPI) -- Soon you won't be able to buy a BlackBerry Classic with its handy keyboard that's been around 20 years -- long before the age of touchscreen smartphones. The company announced Tuesday that it no longer will make the device, which used the old QWERTY keys
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Ralph Pini, chief operating officer and general manager for devices at BlackBerry, wrote in a blog post it's time for a change.
"Sometimes it can be very tough to let go," Pini wrote. "For BlackBerry, and more importantly for our customers, the hardest part in letting go is accepting that change makes way for new and better experiences.
He noted the Classic, released in 2014, and its predecessors been an "incredible workhorse device for customers, exceeding all expectations" since 1996.
"But, the Classic has long surpassed the average lifespan for a smartphone in today's market. We are ready for this change so we can give our customers something better," Pini wrote.
Pini said it's committed to its Blackberry 10, which runs on the BB 10 operating system, and Android devices.
"To keep innovating and advancing our portfolio, we are updating our smartphone lineup with state-of-the -art devices," Pini wrote.
The Classic is still available at stores and online.
"For now, if the Classic is still your device of choice, please check with your carriers for device availability or purchase Classic unlocked online," Pini wrote.
BlackBerry is a Canadian tech company formerly known as Research in Motion.
Shares of stock on Nasdaq declined about 2 percent after the company announced the change.
The company announced last month it had quarterly revenue of $424 million but had a $670 million net loss on non-adjusted basis. John Chen, executive chairman and CEO of Blackberry, announced the company was moving more toward software and licensing revenue as it reported revenue of $166 million in this sector.
BlackBerry has been dominated by Apple and phones running on Google's Android software, including Samsung.
Even government agencies, which had used the phone because of its reputation for security, have been ditching the device.
Last week, the U.S. Senate told staffers they no longer would be issued the devices.
President Barack Obama fought to keep his BlackBerry, which has been modified for security purposes. He's not allowed to use an iPhone or Android handset.
