BlackBerry marked the end of an era Tuesday by announcing it would discontinue its Classic smartphone.

The news marks another chapter in the Ontario-based company's ongoing shift toward making software and services, rather than mobile handsets, a core part of the business.

In a Tuesday blog post, BlackBerry COO and General Manager for Devices Ralph Pini acknowledged that "sometimes it can be very tough to let go."

"The Classic has long surpassed the average lifespan for a smartphone in todays market, Pini said. We are ready for change so we can give our customers something better.

BlackBerry devices like the Classic have long been the smartphone of choice for business executives and world leaders for their security and full keyboard.