{"id":669246,"date":"2026-01-02T15:41:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T15:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/669246\/"},"modified":"2026-01-02T15:41:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T15:41:14","slug":"clicks-debuts-its-own-take-on-the-blackberry-smartphone-plus-a-79-snap-on-mobile-keyboard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/669246\/","title":{"rendered":"Clicks debuts its own take on the BlackBerry smartphone, plus a $79 snap-on mobile keyboard"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clicks Technology<\/a>, a company known for making physical keyboards<\/a> for smartphones, is launching two new devices ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week. In addition to a new, $79 slide-out keyboard for smart devices, the company is also unveiling its first smartphone: the Communicator, a smartphone with a physical keyboard, designed to be carried as your second device.<\/p>\n

Yes, it looks a lot like a BlackBerry. (Quick, someone tell Kim Kardashian, famous BlackBerry hoarder<\/a>.) <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The $499 smartphone is described as being \u201cpurpose-built\u201d for people who carry two phones \u2014 one for work and one for personal use. That is, the company believes its market will be people who do a lot of actual work on their devices \u2014 meaning messaging, emailing, working with documents, or other things where using a physical keyboard could be an advantage.<\/p>\n

While it offers a screen for viewing and responding to messages, the Communicator doesn\u2019t provide access to addictive social media apps or games. Instead, the company partnered with the maker of an Android launcher, Niagara Launcher, to provide access to messaging apps and productivity tools like Gmail, Telegram, WhatsApp, and Slack.<\/p>\n

The phone\u2019s standout feature is its Signal Light, a light-up button on the side of the device that can be customized with different colors and light patterns to indicate when you\u2019ve received messages from certain people, groups, or apps. For instance, you could make messages from VIPs glow purple while chats from WhatsApp are green.<\/p>\n

\"\"Image Credits:<\/strong>Clicks<\/p>\n

You can press on this button, known as the Prompt Key, to dictate messages when you\u2019re in a text field, or otherwise take a quick voice note, if not. The company is teasing the possibility of integrating AI applications with this button \u2014 like note takers, voice recordings, or AI agents \u2014 but nothing like that is yet available.<\/p>\n

Like Clicks\u2019 other products, the Communicator features a tactile keyboard with ergonomic keys designed for faster typing. The keyboard is touch-sensitive too, allowing users to scroll through messages, lists, and webpages without needing to use the touchscreen.<\/p>\n

\"\"Image Credits:<\/strong>Clicks<\/p>\n

The device also includes other old-school features, like a 3.5mm headphone jack, physical SIM card tray (in addition to an eSIM), expandable microSD storage (up to 2TB), and a tactile switch for turning on or off airplane mode. This switch can also be configured to work with the Signal light or keyboard touch input, the company says.<\/p>\n

The back cover can be popped off so you can change the device\u2019s style by swapping to a different color. The phone itself comes in Smoke, Clover (dark green), and Onyx. <\/p>\n

\"\"Image Credits:<\/strong>Clicks<\/p>\n

The device will be offered at $399 for early bird customers who place a $199 deposit before February 27. Customers who pay the full early bird price of $399 upfront will receive two additional back covers. The phone is expected to ship sometime later this year.<\/p>\n

The phone\u2019s full tech specs include:<\/p>\n