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Clicks shows off its BlackBerry-inspired phone in a new hands-on video

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Clicks Technology, a startup that’s preparing to launch its own take on the BlackBerry smartphone, is showing off what it has in store in a new video, released today.

The device, known as the Clicks Communicator, was first introduced at January’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to cater to people who do a lot of work on their phones, like texting and emailing. It’s particularly meant to appeal to those who miss the BlackBerry’s physical keyboard, which some argue is better for these types of tasks.

Priced at $499, the Communicator looks a lot like a modern-day BlackBerry might, with a screen for viewing and responding to messages, and a tactile, touch-sensitive keyboard below.

The phone goes beyond being just a BlackBerry dupe, however, by innovating in other areas. For instance, its clever “Signal Light” feature offers a light-up button on the side of the phone that can be customized with different colors and light patterns to indicate when you’ve received messages from certain people, groups, or apps. 

It also offers customizable back covers that can be popped off and swapped, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a 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.

The Clicks Communicator may also appeal to the growing number of users looking to distance themselves from modern-day smartphones, with their addictive social apps and games. (The company partnered with the Niagara Launcher to provide access to the Android apps it runs). With the Signal Light, you can safely ignore your phone unless you see a critical notification come through.

In the new video, the company shows its pre-production hardware and internal software as a preview of what’s to come when the phone begins shipping in the fourth quarter of this year.

At CES, TechCrunch was able to get a feel for the Communicator by handling a prototype that was the same size and weight as the device that’s preparing to ship at the end of this year. We found it felt good to hold, not too light or heavy, and was easy to grip. The keys were also fairly clicky, giving it a BlackBerry-like feel, though the team was then planning to slightly adjust the pressure to make the device work better for fast typers.

Future videos will go more in-depth into specific Clicks Communicator features, like the Signal Light, Prompt Key, Message Hub, touch-sensitive keyboard, and more.

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Startup Battlefield Australia application closes in days: Apply before July 6

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What if one pitch changed everything?

The last time TechCrunch brought Startup Battlefield to Sydney, two little-known startups stepped onto the stage. What happened next led to more than $85 million raised.

If you want your shot, applications close in just a few days on July 6.


In 2017, Manuri Gunawardena was a final-year medical student when she pitched HealthMatch, a machine learning platform matching patients to clinical trials. She won Startup Battlefield Australia.

That single moment helped propel HealthMatch to more than $25 million raised, expansion into the United States, and over 1 million patients served globally.

The runner-up, FluroSat, used the exposure from that same stage to secure a Microsoft seed round before ultimately becoming part of Regrow Agriculture, which has now raised more than $60 million and counts Microsoft, Airtree, and Cargill among its backers.

From one day in Sydney: $85 million raised. Millions of lives impacted. Global companies born from a single opportunity.

Now Startup Battlefield is returning to Australia — and the application window is almost closed.

On August 19, 2026, TechCrunch Startup Battlefield Australia returns in partnership with Stripe.

This time, the stakes are even higher

Eight selected startups will pitch live at Stripe Tour Sydney in front of top-tier investors, global press, and the best of Australia’s tech community. The top three win up to $15,000 in Stripe fee credits. The grand winner gets something bigger: automatic entry into Startup Battlefield 200 at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco this October. No application. No competition. A guaranteed spot on the world’s most iconic startup stage.

This isn’t just an event for the startups pitching. It’s a moment for every founder, investor, and operator who has been quietly doing world-class work from the other side of the world.

This is your stage

The next company nobody has heard of yet is building something that will matter. It could be yours.

Six more days to apply. July 6 is the deadline. 

Apply now.

Free to apply · No equity taken · In-person event, Sydney, Australia, August 19, 2026

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6 Best VPNs for Australia in 2026

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What’s the best VPN to use in Australia? Discover the pricing, features, pros and cons of our recommended VPNs for Australia.

The post 6 Best VPNs for Australia in 2026 appeared first on TechRepublic.

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Meta Adds WhatsApp Usernames: Here’s What You Need to Know

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WhatsApp is rolling out usernames so people can chat without sharing phone numbers. Here’s how reservations, username keys, and rules work.

The post Meta Adds WhatsApp Usernames: Here’s What You Need to Know appeared first on TechRepublic.

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