BlackBerry phones stop working today
"As of this date, devices running these legacy services and software through either carrier or Wi-Fi connections will no longer reliably function,” the company said Tuesday in a statement.
By
Brooke Migdon | Jan. 4, 2022
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BlackBerry’s classic cellphone retires today, the company reminded users Tuesday in a statement.
BlackBerry first announced in 2020 that it would decommission its legacy software beginning Jan. 4, meaning classic BlackBerry devices would no longer function beyond that date.
BlackBerry phones were once loved by celebrities, business executives, and even world leaders, with former President Barack Obama famously refusing to surrender his BlackBerry once he took office in 2009.
BlackBerry’s iconic cellphone, once a staple for top business executives and a symbol of elite status for stars and socialites in the early 2000s, stops working today.
BlackBerry announced in a statement late last month that it would decommission the phone’s legacy software beginning Jan. 4, meaning classic BlackBerry devices – outfitted with a QWERTY keypad – will no longer function.
"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," the company said, and thanked its “many loyal customers and partners over the years.”
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https://thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment/arts-culture/588200-blackberry-phones-stop-working-today
