BlackBerry to End Support for Legacy Devices on January 4, 2022

Before I joined the cult of iPhone, of which I’ve fortunately been a member of for a few years now, my first large cellphone buy was a BlackBerry. Time made it as sluggish as a turtle, and it started its new life in a drawer in one of many many flats and homes I’ve lived in. Over the years, I forgot about BlackBerry units, as I’m certain most of you probably did—no offense to the ceaselessly BlackBerry followers—till now.

The solely cause I’m speaking about BlackBerry telephones now could be as a result of they’re formally going to die on Jan. 4, 2022. If this sounds acquainted to you, it’s as a result of we’ve been saying that BlackBerry telephones are going kaput since at least 2016, which is when the corporate introduced that it was getting out of the {hardware} enterprise. Pieces of its empire, such because the BlackBerry World app store and the legendary BBM messenging service, have been falling slowly ever since.

Nonetheless, for anybody who nonetheless owns a legacy gadget, it truly is time to say goodbye.

In a recent support message on its web site, BlackBerry kindly reminded customers with units with BlackBerry 7.1 OS and earlier, BlackBerry 10 software program, and BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 and earlier variations—all of that are thought of legacy units—that after Jan. 4, 2022, these merchandise will lose the power to hold out key capabilities.

BlackBerry, which now gives safety software program, initially introduced the end-of-life date for these units in September 2020.

“As of this date, devices running these legacy services and software through either carrier or Wi-Fi connections will no longer reliably function, including for data, phone calls, SMS and 9-1-1 functionality,” BlackBerry mentioned.

In addition, BlackBerry apps, together with BlackBerry Link, BlackBerry Desktop Manager, and BlackBerry Blend, can have “limited functionality.” Users with a BlackBerry hosted electronic mail deal with or who obtain redirected mail to a BlackBerry electronic mail deal with might want to migrate to a different service.

Importantly, BlackBerry Android units won’t be affected by the end-of-service date until customers are redirecting their electronic mail to a BlackBerry electronic mail or use an enhanced Sim Based License or Identity Based License. In the case of the licenses, BlackBerry says customers must get hold of a normal license to cowl the usage of BlackBerry enterprise providers on their gadget.

As for what it’s best to do when you have a BlackBerry legacy gadget that you just don’t wish to eliminate, the corporate doesn’t maintain again.

“Customers will need to move to new devices. Please contact your carrier of choice for more information about what devices and plans are available,” BlackBerry mentioned.

Here’s to BlackBerry telephones. Although they gained’t be round anymore, the corporate can ensure that they made their mark on society. As for my BlackBerry, which remains to be in an unknown drawer someplace, it served me effectively whereas it lasted.