Users who are still clinging on to their old BlackBerry devices may have to upgrade to a modern smartphone, as the company has announced that its devices will no longer be able to support legacy services over cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity starting January 4.
Devices which run on BlackBerry OS 7.1 and earlier, BlackBerry OS 10, or BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 and earlier, will no longer be able to ‘reliably function’. This means that phone calls, texting, data, and even emergency services access will be affected. Users can also expect to have issues with Wi-Fi, and apps like BlackBerry World and Desktop manager.
The services were initially expected to be shut off in September last year, but were extended as ‘an expression of thanks’ to BlackBerry’s customers and partners.
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The end-of-service announcement does not apply to BlackBerry phones which run on Android.
BlackBerry has not released any phones in a while, with the last phone to come out under the brand being the BlackBerry Key2 LE in 2018. In February 2020, BlackBerry licensing partner and smartphone manufacturer TCL had said that it would no longer produce BlackBerry phones.
A USA-based startup called OnwardMobility had teased a 5G BlackBerry phone to launch in 2021. However, no such phone was launched in 2021.