Old Blackberry Devices Will Not be Updated After January 4, 2022

Photo by: David Lindahl

Blackberry released on September 9, 2020, a reminder that they will no longer provide updates to its legacy services (BlackBerry 7.1 OS and earlier, BlackBerry 10 software, BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 and earlier versions) after January 4, 2022. Devices running these legacy services and software via carrier or Wi-Fi connections will no longer function reliably after this date, including data, phone calls, SMS, and 9-1-1 functions.

The company will be taking efforts to decommission legacy services for BlackBerry 7.1 OS and older, BlackBerry 10 software, BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 and prior versions, with an end-of-life or termination date of January4,2022, as another milestone in the BlackBerry journey.


WHAT SERVICES WILL BE DISCONTINUED, AND WHAT WILL BE AFFECTED?

Devices: 

  • BlackBerry Classic

  • BlackBerry Passport

  • BlackBerry Leap

  • BlackBerry Z10, Z30, Z3

  • BlackBerry Q10, Q5

  • Porsche Design P’9982 from BlackBerry

  • Porsche Design P’9983 from BlackBerry

  • BlackBerry Bold: 9900/9930, 9790, 9650, 9788, 9700, 9000

  • BlackBerry Curve: 9380, 9370/9360/9350, 9330/9300, 9320/9315/9310/9220, 8530/8520, 9380, 8900/8980, 8300/8310/8320/8330/8350i

  • BlackBerry Torch: 9860/9850, 9810, 9800

  • BlackBerry Storm: 9500/9530, 9520/9550

  • BlackBerry Pearl: 9100, 8100/8110/8120/8130, 8220/8230

  • BlackBerry 9720

  • BlackBerry 9620

  • Porsche Design P’9981 from BlackBerry

  • BlackBerry Tour 9630

  • BlackBerry Style 9670

  • BlackBerry 8800/8820/8830

  • BlackBerry 7130

  • BlackBerry 8700/8707

  • BlackBerry 7100

  • BlackBerry 7290

  • BlackBerry 7730

  • BlackBerry 7230

  • BlackBerry 6720

  • BlackBerry 6230

  • C++ platform based devices: 850, 857, 900, 950, 957

  • BlackBerry PlayBook 4G LTE / 3G+

  • BlackBerry PlayBook

Software, Apps & Services:

  • BlackBerry 7.1 OS and earlier software

  • BlackBerry 10 software

  • BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 and earlier software

  • BlackBerry Desktop Software

  • BlackBerry Link

  • BlackBerry Blend

  • BlackBerry World

  • BlackBerry Protect (Allows consumers to lock, locate or wipe BBOS, BlackBerry 10 devices remotely). There is no impact to the new BlackBerry Protect which is an AI-based endpoint security solution.

  • BlackBerry Password Keeper for BlackBerry 10 and BlackBerry 7.1 OS and earlier. BlackBerry Password Keeper for BlackBerry Android devices will not be impacted.

  • BlackBerry ID* for BlackBerry 10, BlackBerry 7.1 OS and earlier, and BlackBerry PlayBook 2.1 OS and earlier

  • BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) – Consumer*

  • PIN to PIN device messaging

  • BlackBerry hosted email addresses – This includes the redirection of email sent to BlackBerry hosted email addresses to other email addresses used on other platforms, including Android and iOS. This includes @myblackberry.com or @service_provider_name.blackberry.com email addresses.

  • Enhanced Sim Based Licensing (ESBL), Identity Based Licensing (IBL)

  • BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 – this product has already reached End of Support, and the software may no longer reliably function after the termination of services.

*Note: no impact to BBM for Enterprise and BBM Enterprise for Individual Use (BBMe), which will continue to be available and will leverage BlackBerry ID on other platforms. (Source: Blackberry)

Photo by: Randy Lu

ARE BLACKBERRY ANDROID DEVICES AFFECTED?

There is some good news for BlackBerry Android users as their devices will be unaffected by the EOL of infrastructure services unless they receive redirected email sent to a BlackBerry hosted email address or have been assigned an Enhanced Sim Based License (ESBL) or Identity Based License (IBL) (IBL). Users of BlackBerry hosted email addresses or those who utilize email redirection for these addresses will need to migrate to a new email address prior to the EOL date. If an ESBL or IBL license is allocated to any iOS or Android device, including BlackBerry Android devices, the client must buy a standard license to access BlackBerry Enterprise services with that device. (Source: Blackberry)

Before the advent of slab phones, I used the Blackberry Curve 8520 and Blackberry Bold 9900. The experience is fantastic, and my personal favorite is the QWERTY keyboard. If you continue to use these devices in 2022, service will be so unreliable that you will need to upgrade to an Android or iOS device.

What Blackberry devices have you used, and how do you feel about Blackberry eliminating services on these?

TechJB VertudazoBlackberry, Blackberry Legacy, Blackberry OS, Blackberry 7.1 OS, Blackberry 10, Blackberry Classic, Blackberry PassportComment