After 23 years on the market, Blackberry smartphones will no longer “reliably function” from January 4th as their operating system is switched off.
The once-popular smartphones, which rose to fame in the early 2000s thanks to their instantly-recognisable physical keyboards and BBM messaging service, will no longer be able to send texts, connect to the Internet, or make emergency calls.
After the release of the Apple iPhone in 2007, legendary Blackberry smartphones were rapidly outnumbered by the iconic device – which featured the first full-size touchscreen – and struggled to stay relevant. This, combined with the release of Google’s Android software later that same year, meant Blackberry were ultimately pushed out of the market.
The company did make one last ditch attempt to regain their popularity by releasing the Blackberry 10 OS and Z10 Smartphone in 2013, but it never caught on. In 2016, Blackberry began licensing their name to third-party manufacturers and, in 2022, they now focus on software instead of hardware.
In a statement, Blackberry said “We thank our many loyal customers and partners over the years.” And, they will continue to have one famous Blackberry-lover in former US President Barack Obama. Shortly after he won his first Presidential election, Obama famously fought with his aids to be allowed to keep his Blackberry smartphone!
