TCL Bows BlackBerry-Brand Smartphone With Keyboard at Mobile World Congress

TCL launched the BlackBerry KEYone smartphone at Mobile World Congress, after a licensing agreement last fall with BlackBerry for the company's software and service suite. It has a 5.5-inch display, physical keyboard and 3,505 mAh battery with Qualcomm Quick Charge technology that can bring the phone to a 50 percent charge within 36 minutes, said TCL in an announcement. The phone is targeted to business, government and corporate users. BlackBerry CEO John Chen said last fall on an earnings call that the company's decision to exit handset development and manufacturing in favor of a royalty-bearing licensing model for its brand and intellectual property was the best way to drive profitability in the device business (see 1609280006).