Title: BlackBerry Discontinues Support for Legacy Devices, Marking the End of an Era
Publication Date: Tue 4 Jan 2022, 6:11 PM
Image Caption: File photo
Nostalgic for Mobile Phones with Physical Keyboards? BlackBerry Devices to Cease Functioning
As of Tuesday, numerous models of BlackBerry devices, which were once indispensable and known for their physical keyboards, will no longer be operational. The Canadian company has made the decision to terminate updates of its operating system, rendering most BlackBerries unusable as of January 4.
BlackBerry, which became synonymous with the emerging mobile digital culture over the past few decades and gained popularity among politicians and business executives, will no longer function correctly. The company announced on its website last month that devices running its legacy services and software through carrier or Wi-Fi connections will no longer function reliably for data, phone calls, SMS, or emergency (9-1-1) functionality.
The end-of-life (EOL) decision by BlackBerry affects devices operating on BlackBerry 7.1 OS and earlier, BlackBerry 10 software, BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 and earlier versions. However, the company clarified that devices using Google’s Android operating system, such as the BlackBerry KEY2 released in 2018 and designed by China’s TCL Group, will not be affected by the changes.
This EOL announcement marks the end of an era in mobile telephony, as BlackBerry experienced widespread commercial success, especially among professionals, in the late 2000s. The QWERTY keyboard and simplistic design were highly favored by business leaders, celebrities, politicians, and journalists.
Former US President Barack Obama was famously addicted to his BlackBerry and insisted on keeping his phone in the White House after his election in 2008. To ensure data security, his security detail had to create a custom model with basic features. However, BlackBerry was eventually overtaken by smartphones, particularly Apple’s iPhone, which launched in 2009.
Attempts to revive BlackBerry were unsuccessful, and the partnership with TCL for the latest model, the KEY2, was not renewed. Since 2013, the company, based in Waterloo, Ontario and formerly known as Research In Motion, has shifted its focus to software development and production.
The discontinuation of support for legacy BlackBerry devices signifies the end of an era for this iconic brand in the mobile industry.
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