Sharp, BlackBerry return to domestic smartphone arena

Foreign smartphone brands BlackBerry Ltd and Sharp Corp returned to the Chinese market on Tuesday with the help of local electronics makers. The two companies hope to compete in the world's largest smartphone market, and square up against domestic rivals such as Huawei Technologies Co and Oppo Electronics Corp.

Chinese consumer electronics company TCL Corp has introduced its first BlackBerry-licensed phone - BlackBerry KEYone, aimed at the mid-and high-end market. Equipped with a 4.5-inch full HD display, the smartphone possesses a physical keyboard that provides more flexibility and usable space for typing.

The move follows an agreement between the two companies in December that saw TCL become the manufacturer of BlackBerry smartphones, as BlackBerry moves away to focus on its security software business.