Say goodbye to your BlackBerry for good

Remember the time back when BlackBerry was the must-have piece of tech in everyone’s pockets? Prior to the advent of the iPhone, this was the cool kid on the block. Of course, things have changed quite a bit since then. Now, decades later it looks like BlackBerry will draw its last breath going into 2022. Well, sort of.

As of 4 January, phones and tablets running BlackBerry’s own software will “no longer reliably function” as per the company. This refers to any device running BlackBerry 7.1 OS and earlier, BlackBerry 10 software, BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1, and earlier versions. So whether you’re trying to make phone calls, or use data services, there’s no guarantee it will work properly. However, devices running Android will continue to work. Though there’s little reason to hang on to a BlackBerry Android device now. Unless you’re one for that nostalgic feel that is.

Dying a slow death

The past decades have seen the company fall far from the QWERTY keyboard and boxy phone days. But the once-triumphant mobile giant has made a few attempts at revitalizing the name. In 2013, tried a reboot with its BlackBerry 10 that didn’t play out well. A couple of years later the company switched to Android. Again, wasn’t quite the successful reemergence story BlackBerry might have hoped for.

Following this, the company started licensing its brand to third-party manufacturers. This is how a Texas-based company OnwardMobility is looking to launch a 5G-enabled Android BlackBerry device (with a QWERTY keyboard no less).

The name lives on

Although legacy devices and services may have reached their end, the name continues to live on. But not just through its brand licensing deals. The parent company, BlackBerry Limited, is now an enterprise software and cybersecurity company. After all, the company’s devices did have a reputation for cybersecurity. In 2019, BlackBerry even acquired an A.I.-based cybersecurity company called Cyclance for USD 1.4 billion. It was a clear sign of its pivot to a fully-fledged cybersecurity firm.

While the company is merely a shadow of its former self, it still pulls in the numbers. Its Q2 2020 revenues were recorded at USD 259 million, a 6% growth year on year. Even so, it’s harder to put a clear-cut definition behind what it is as a company today. As Whet Moser puts it, “it’s mostly an intellectual property and Internet of Things software company, making a play to be a cybersecurity giant through Cylance”.

So here’s to the OG BlackBerry, may you Rest In Peace.