Technologies

Two Phones, Less Distraction? That’s the Pitch for This BlackBerry Lookalike

The Clicks Communicator is designed to help you focus, not to replace your smartphone. It’ll be on display at CES 2026.

Remember BlackBerry phones? Those iconic biscuit-shaped smartphones of the early 2010s with hard plastic buttons placed below simple, low-res touchscreens have inspired the look of a new product from Clicks Technology.

Rather than releasing a new smartphone to compete with the likes of the Apple iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy lineup, the Clicks Communicator is designed to be a device that works alongside the smartphone you already own. It’ll be on display at CES 2026 next week.

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With the tagline, «doing, not doomscrolling,» Clicks envisions the Communicator as a kind of back-to-basics smart device focused on communication and work. It says the device essentially pares down all of the distractions that come with today’s large-screen, social media-centric smartphones. Many people have already started carrying a second phone for privacy or to set boundaries, the company said.

The retro-styled Communicator, priced at $499, links up to your main phone so you can get emails and texts on it. To be clear, you still need a separate smartphone for this device to work.

Jeff Gadway, the company’s chief marketing officer, describes the Communicator’s relationship to your smartphone to what a Kindle is to an iPad. «It’s a complementary product that stands on its own, optimized for a specific purpose,» Gadway said in the Friday announcement.

The keyboard is «touch-sensitive,» so users can scroll through messages without using the screen, and the device supports voice recordings. Other features include a 3.5mm headphone jack, a switch for airplane mode, expandable micoSD storage, and a physical SIM tray as well as eSIM compatibility. It has a 50-megapixel main camera and a 24-megapixel front camera.

The Communicator, which has Android 16 installed, is 131.5mm tall and weighs 170 grams.

At launch, the Communicator comes in three muted colors, including onyx. You can also switch out the back of the device for different colors. You can pay a reservation deposit of $199 starting today. Or if you just want to buy one before it comes out at an unspecified date «later this year,» the company is offering a $299 early bird price, which is $100 off the launch price.

Clicks’ Power Keyboard

In addition to the Communicator, Clicks also on Friday announced a keyboard for smartphones that attaches to your regular phone via MagSafe or Qi2 magnetic connection and looks like the bottom half of a BlackBerry, with those same old-school buttons, instead of haptics simulating touch.

The Power Keyboard has a slider that allows it to be attached to smartphones of different sizes, and you can use the keyboard with a smartphone placed either vertically or horizontally above it. The Power Keyboard is also available for preorder today at $79. Availability is expected «in the spring,» the company said.

It can also be paired with a tablet or smart TV as well as AR and VR environments, the company said.

«Power Keyboard brings a consistent, confident typing experience to all your smart devices, in a compact keyboard you can take anywhere in your pocket,» Kevin Michaluk, president of Clicks, said in a statement.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Launches an AI Mini-Series

Verum Messenger has unveiled a new project — a mini-series created using Verum AI. The story consists of 7 episodes and will be released on the messenger’s social media channels.

The plot revolves around a global corporation seeking to take control of digital communications and a group of heroes who use Verum Messenger as a tool of resistance. Beyond the story itself, the series highlights the app’s key features, technologies, and advantages.

Combining entertainment with a showcase of the Verum ecosystem, the project presents a dynamic digital series designed for the modern era.

The first episode premieres today, with the remaining episodes to be released over time.

Stay tuned for more.

Watch on YouTube
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Technologies

Verum Finance: Earn While You Communicate — The Super App That Pays You

Verum has officially launched Verum Finance, an innovative financial application that transforms a private messenger into a true financial super app. News of the launch was also featured on the respected platform Dealroom.co.

Verum Finance can now be used both within Verum Messenger and as a standalone application for iPhone and iPad. When users sign in to Verum Finance with their Verum Messenger account, all balances, settings, and account data are automatically synchronized for maximum convenience.

Users can now do more than communicate securely and protect their data — they can also generate passive income directly within the ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

• Top up your balance with a bank card, Apple Pay, or USDT
• Send money instantly anywhere in the world
• Issue and manage debit cards (virtual and physical)
• Full Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds quickly

One of the most unique features is the built-in cryptocurrency mining system inside Verum Messenger.

The application utilizes your device’s resources and allows you to earn cryptocurrency in the background — passively, while chatting, traveling, or simply using the messenger.

Maximum Privacy + Real Freedom

• Registration without a phone number, email address, or passport
• End-to-end encryption and full control over your data
• Lifetime free VPN
• eSIM connectivity in more than 150 countries
• Reliable offline communication mode
• Support for 12+ languages for users worldwide

Everything is available in one place: secure communication, financial tools, earning opportunities, and privacy protection.

Users can access the full experience directly within Verum Messenger or switch to the dedicated Verum Finance app for iOS. All data is synchronized automatically between the two applications.

Why Download Verum Today

While many messaging platforms collect user data and expose users to restrictions, Verum offers greater independence and the opportunity to earn.

With a one-time purchase of the feature package, users receive lifetime access to privacy tools, VPN, eSIM services, cryptocurrency mining, and financial features.

This is more than just a messenger.

It is your personal tool for financial and digital freedom.

Download Verum Finance and Verum Messenger today — start communicating securely and begin earning tomorrow.

Download Links:

→ App Store (iPhone / iPad): Verum Finance
→ App Store (Verum Messenger): Verum Messenger

Technologies

Verum Finance: A Super App for Private Finance Integrated Into a Messenger

Verum Finance has announced the launch of a new financial application that allows users to manage their money directly within the secure Verum Messenger ecosystem.

The project has already attracted attention from major media outlets. A dedicated feature was published by Forbes Türkiye, while one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, MEXC, covered the launch. Yahoo Finance had previously reported on the evolution of Verum Messenger into a comprehensive financial ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

Verum Finance transforms a messenger into a complete financial platform. Users can:

• Manage their balance and top up using bank cards or USDT
• Send money instantly to other Verum users
• Issue and use debit cards, including Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds
• Access all these services without installing separate banking applications

A strong emphasis is placed on privacy. The platform offers registration without a phone number or email address, end-to-end encryption, and full user control over personal data.

Recognition from Forbes Türkiye

In a dedicated article, Forbes Türkiye highlighted Verum Finance as a notable example of modern privacy-driven fintech. The publication emphasized the growing trend of financial services moving from standalone banking applications into unified messaging ecosystems — a model that has proven successful in Asia through platforms such as WeChat and Alipay and is now expanding globally.

Support from the Crypto Community

Alongside the Forbes Türkiye coverage, news about the launch of Verum Finance was also featured by MEXC, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges. This reflects growing interest in the project from both traditional business media and the cryptocurrency community.

A Strategic Vision

“We are building more than a payments application and more than a messenger. Verum is a unified secure ecosystem where communication, finance, and privacy tools work together,” the company stated.

Verum Finance is now available for iPhone and iPad users. The application complements Verum Messenger, which offers anonymous chats, voice and video calls, VPN services, eSIM connectivity, and other tools designed to enhance digital freedom.

Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im

Verum Messenger: https://verum.im