It’s the end of an era.
BlackBerry has announced that a number of its classic devices running BlackBerry software will will access to crucial features tomorrow.
The company announced the end of life of features like calling, texting, and data on classic BlackBerry devices — such as those running BlackBerry OS 7.1 or earlier, or OS 10 — will occur on Jan. 4, 2022. Without the ability to call or even text reliably, the devices are pretty much as good as dead.
BlackBerry-branded devices that run on the Android operating system will continue to function normally, and the end of life will only apply to BlackBerry’s legacy hardware.
Back in February 2020, the last major manufacturer of BlackBerry smartphones and tablets announced that it would stop producing the iconic brand. In 2019, BlackBerry shut down its App Store and messaging service.
The BlackBerry brand has survived via third-party licensing, and back in 2020, a Texas company called OnwardMobility said it would release a new 5G Android smartphone with BlackBerry branding in 2021. As of Dec. 31, 2021, that device has yet to be released.
BlackBerry’s parent company, BlackBerry Limited, has also moved on to other ventures. Currently, the company sells cybersecurity software and other solutions to enterprise and government customers.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and BlackBerry