What Happened to BlackBerry phones (legacy OS)?

BlackBerry (legacy OS) refers to smartphones running BlackBerry OS (and later BlackBerry 10)—devices that popularized secure, push email and the QWERTY candy-bar form factor for business and government users. Starting from two-way email pagers in 1999, BlackBerry’s integrated phone + email handsets (e.g., Curve, Bold) became cultural touchstones—so habit-forming they earned the “CrackBerry” nickname. Core strengths included end-to-end encryption, BES/BIS services, efficient battery life, and physical keyboards that enabled fast, accurate typing.

As the market shifted to large touchscreens and expansive app ecosystems after 2007, BlackBerry struggled to match the pace of iOS and Android. Attempts to bridge the gap included the touch-centric Storm line and, later, the BlackBerry 10 platform (2013) with gesture navigation and a new runtime. Despite loyal enterprise and messaging users, developer traction and consumer share declined. In 2016, BlackBerry announced it would cease in-house phone development and pivot to software and security; the BlackBerry name subsequently appeared on Android devices via licensing (TCL, and later other partners). Legacy network services for older devices were eventually turned off.

BlackBerry’s legacy endures in secure mobility, MDM/EMM software, and the enduring appeal of compact QWERTY phones—even as mainstream smartphones moved decisively to full-screen slabs.