BlackBerry Will No Longer Function

There was a time when owning a BlackBerry meant you were on top of the world. A modest symbol of status, BlackBerry was the smartphone before the smartphone. It inspired legions of extremely dedicated fans. 

Today, January 4th, 2022, your favorite forgotten device will cease to function. 

It’s the end of an era, folks. 

Humble BlackBerry Beginnings

In its very first iteration, the Inter@ctive Pager was essentially a glorified two-way pager. Customers could respond to pages with a physical keyboard. It was kind of a text messaging/email hybrid. 

In 1999, the company then known as Research In Motion released the BlackBerry 850. And took over the world. 

The BlackBerry soon gained support for email, apps, web browsing, and BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), an encrypted text messaging platform that was essentially a “cool kids club.” 

To own such a device meant that you were not just an ambitious professional, you were living in the future.

And Then 2007 Happened…

Apple released the iPhone, and everything changed. Suddenly, the BlackBerry looked dated compared to the sexy, sleek iPhone. These devices, like iPhone and Android, allowed customers to download more apps, easily download music, video, and maps. 

The once cutting-edge company tried keeping up with touchscreen devices, but none were a hit. By 2016, the company stopped manufacturing phones and shifted focus to software. 

No More CrackBerry Addicts

Even though it couldn’t summon an Uber or stream a series on Netflix, BlackBerry was cutting-edge technology that could keep a charge for days. For the first time, executives, reality stars, and world leaders could send an email from the palm of their hands. 

Now, the iconic device is fading into the sunset. It’s a sad day for many of its diehard fans.