Blackberry to stop producing Classic smartphone

Ralph Pini, the company’s chief operating officer and general manager for devices, said the Classic has long surpassed the average life span for a smartphone in today’s market.

The BlackBerry Classic hit the market in December 2014, offering customers a 3.5-inch screen, which was 60 percent larger than the previous BlackBerry Bold 9900, with longer battery life and a standard keyboard and touch-screen.

BlackBerry has faced calls to stop making cell phones in favor of focusing on its burgeoning software business, but CEO John Chen recently reaffirmed his commitment to stay in the hardware market.

[...] Chen has said he believes a new venture to license BlackBerry’s mobile software to other companies can help turn its mobile business segment profitable this fiscal year, which ends in February.