TCL Teases First BlackBerry-Branded Smartphones

"We'll unveil more news at CES around our plans, showcasing the legacy of the BlackBerry smartphone brand, while also giving a glimpse into what new BlackBerry smartphones will offer as part of our bold new brand portfolio," TCL North America President Steve Cistulli said in a statement.

BlackBerry and TCL previously teamed up on two BlackBerry-branded Android handsets: the DTEK50 and DTEK60. The current licensing agreement will see BlackBerry continue to develop its security and software products—including self-driving cars—while TCL will sell new BlackBerry-branded devices.

The agreement is also a sign that TCL wants to take on Samsung and Apple in North America. It's currently the fourth-largest handset manufacturer in North America, but it wants to become a "tier one portfolio brand," according to Thursday's announcement.