BlackBerry is not abandoning the smartphone business

BlackBerry has not left the smartphone business and BlackBerry-branded handsets will not disappear from the market.

That’s according to BlackBerry’s regional product manager in South Africa, Martin Fick.

When BlackBerry announced it would stop making its own phones earlier this year, CEO John Chen said it would outsource manufacturing to partners.

However, there is still a misconception that BlackBerry is leaving the smartphone business entirely.

Fick said BlackBerry will partner with third-parties to make BlackBerry-branded handsets, while BlackBerry will focus on its strengths: software and security solutions.

Although Fick could not answer questions about how BlackBerry will manage the roll-out of security patches with its hardware partners, he said they have experience in dealing with hardware and carrier partners.

BlackBerry partnered with TCL Corporation to build the BlackBerry DTEK50, for example.

“It’s in our best interest to make sure we select the right partner for the relevant markets,” said Fick.

Now read: BlackBerry DTEK50 launched in South Africa – prices, details