Bye-bye BlackBerry

​Bye-bye BlackBerry:

BlackBerry is ending support for smartphones and tablets running on its OS, these devices will no longer receive or make phone calls and texts, use data or call 911 as of January 4, 2022, however, Android-powered BlackBerry devices will still have service

BlackBerry, the Canadian company that took the world by storm in 2000 with its classic smartphone, announced Friday that it is ending support for the iconic device.

This means such technologies will no longer receive or make phone calls and texts, use data or call 911.

BlackBerry says in the announcement that WiFi and mobile data might also become unreliable, and applications including BlackBerry Link, BlackBerry Desktop Manager, BlackBerry World, BlackBerry Protect, BlackBerry Messenger, and BlackBerry Blend 'will also have limited functionality.'

Blackberry first hit the market in 2000 and became the must-have for professionals, as the smartphone allowed users to easily write and send emails.

The smartphone saw a dramatic increase in popularity from 2001 to 2007, as it made its way around the world.

However, in 2016, Blackberry lost its throne as top smartphone in 2016, which was mainly due to Apple's iPhone.

In the end, it was BlackBerry's failure to adapt, lack of consumer insight and poor design that led to its demise in 2018 when the company announced it would stop producing the smartphone.