Rogers has begun taking pre-orders for the upcoming BlackBerry Classic. The move comes just days after BlackBerry kicked off pre-orders in the U.S. and the U.K. ahead of the handset\u2019s mid-December launch in those markets, but Rogers hasn\u2019t confirmed when the Classic will be available in Canada.<\/p>\n
Rogers isn\u2019t making a big deal out of the Classic \u2014 perhaps unsurprisingly \u2014 but those visiting the carrier\u2019s BlackBerry page will see the banner above that highlights some of the handset\u2019s biggest selling points, such as its square touch screen, \u201camazingly fast\u201d web browsing, and its battery life.<\/p>\n
The banner also points out the Classic\u2019s keyboard and navigation keys, which are what sets the device apart from other BB10 handsets. The Classic is essentially a BlackBerry Q10 \u2014 they\u2019re both identical on the inside \u2014 but it brings back those classic menu buttons that long-time BlackBerry users have become accustomed to, and combines them with a touchscreen and the latest BB OS.<\/p>\n
BlackBerry is hoping that the handset can convince users who are still clinging onto their Bolds and Curves to finally upgrade to one of the company\u2019s latest offerings.<\/p>\n
Official Classic pre-orders began last week in the U.S. and the U.K. via BlackBerry.com<\/a>, and the handset will begin shipping in those markets in mid-December. Rogers hasn\u2019t confirmed when the Classic will be available in Canada yet, or how much it\u2019ll cost \u2014 but its upfront price in the U.S. is $499.<\/p>\n