Buzz
When reading comments about BlackBerry in today's context, I see them often portrayed as failures by many, who perhaps are unaware of how successful BlackBerry once was and how much it contributed to technology. As a BlackBerry enthusiast, I felt compelled to do something, hence this article. Additionally, there's also a movie about BlackBerry that I'm eagerly looking forward to watching.
Agreed, in the smartphone market, they may have failed, much like Palm, Motorola, Nokia, but when we mention their name, let's also consider the contributions they made to humanity and the tech world. Without their pioneering steps, there might not have been the likes of Apple, Samsung, or Xiaomi later on.
Note on Length: This article summarizes the history of a 39 to 40-year-old brand, with comparisons to other brands in each era and some personal insights from the author, so it can't be short. You can check out the original article for a better-customized layout and images.
I belong to the 90s generation, started using BlackBerry in the years 2009 to 2016, so there might be different and fewer experiences than older folks who got into BlackBerry earlier and might have experience with some older models. I hope to hear more about your experiences in the comments section.
And let me reiterate something I often say before diving into the content: BlackBerry might not be the best devices, but BlackBerry has given me the best emotions
Part 1: 1984 – 2000 Setting the Stage for BlackBerry
Let's revisit history, before the BlackBerry brand or company emerged, its predecessor, Research In Motion (RIM), was founded in 1984 in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. During this period, RIM was active in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors. In 1988, RIM became the first developer of wireless data transmission technology in North America and the first company outside Scandinavia to develop products for the Mobitex wireless data transmission network – essentially belonging to 1G technology, predating 2G technology. From 1990 – 1995: RIM continued developing technologies based on Mobitex and introduced products like DigiSync Film KeyKode Reader, Mobitex protocol converter, Mobitex point-of-sale solution, RIMGate, Ericsson Mobidem AT, and Intel wireless modem. Honestly, I'm not sure what those are and how they were used because I wasn't born during this period. 1996: RIM unveiled the first two-way messaging device, the RIM Inter@ctive Pager. Unlike one-way pagers that only received messages, two-way pagers could both send and receive messages. Commercially launched in 1997, the Inter@ctive Pager became RIM's flagship product at the time. 1998: Starting from 1996, RIM collaborated with RAM Mobile Data and Ericsson to transform the Ericsson-developed Mobitex wireless data network into a two-way messaging and wireless email network, laying the groundwork for the development and launch of the commercial messaging device Inter@ctive Pager 950 in 1998. It featured a QWERTY keyboard, ran on AA batteries, and ran the RIM OS 1 operating system, written in C++, with multitasking capabilities and preloaded applications such as a calendar, calculator, address book, search, and alarm clock. You can read a review of the Inter@ctive Pager 950 here. 1999: RIM introduced the BlackBerry 850, the first device bearing the BlackBerry label. It was a variant of the 950, running on the 800 MHz band of the DataTAC system – a different technology from the 1G era. By this time, the name BlackBerry was chosen from among 40 other options because the keyboards of RIM's messaging devices reminded people of the image of a BlackBerry fruit – hence, the name.
2000: The BlackBerry 957 was unveiled, marking the debut of BlackBerry's first handheld smart device with a large screen that fits in the palm, integrating wireless email and internet capabilities. It still had an operating system and applications but lacked phone functionality, so it wasn't considered a smartphone yet. The RIM OS platform and BES continued to enhance functionality, and the integration of encryption and S/MIME support made BlackBerry devices more appealing to governments and businesses. At that time, people could receive emails anytime, anywhere, without needing to check them on a computer.ThumbWheelTrackWheel- Nokia introduced the 3310 in 2000
- Samsung was still making flip phones like the SGH-800 back then
- Motorola launched the iconic StarTAC in 1996, which also used AMPS – a different technology from the 1G era, unlike later models of the StarTac. In Vietnam, people were using it with 2G SIM cards
- Windows introduced Windows 2000 at that time, followed by the famous XP version in 2001
- Apple was busy with the PowerMac G4 Cube
- Palm, a prominent name in the Pocket PC / PDA market, was still using Palm OS in the early 2000s
Part 2: 2001-2005 BlackBerry TrackWheel series – Ahead of its time
2001-2002
In 2001, the 9/11 attack on the United States further solidified RIM's reputation as a telecommunications provider, as their network remained intact while other wireless systems were affected, some even collapsing [1]In early 2002BlackBerry 5810First BlackBerry Smartphone
The 5810 runs on RIM OS based on Java, no longer C++, and the device now features a Browser for web access along with various other applications such as email, messenger, calendar, reminder, note-taking, calculator, alarm clock, customizable ringtones, vibration mode, airplane mode, and shortcut keys to access applications... It still has the ability to multitask multiple applications simultaneously. Integrated with 2G network and equipped with GPRS for internet access. It also has the capability to receive, read, send, reply, forward, or delete emails and synchronize mailboxes between the phone and personal computer. However, the selling price of the 5810 at that time was not cheap: $749By late 2002, RIM also introduced the BlackBerry 6710, 6720, and 6750 (different versions using different bands). These were upgrades from the 5810, now featuring speakerphone and better configuration, running RIM OS 3.3-3.6 initially and later upgraded to BlackBerry OS 4.0 (BBOS). Still priced at $749, a flagship price at that time.
In 2002, a personal mobile phone that could access networks, use email and browse the web, multitask, with a taskbar switching between apps, certainly made work much easier at that time.Around the same time, Nokia had the 7210 running the first-generation S40 OS. Although this OS was capable and ran on Java, it lacked multitasking capabilities, making it incomparable to BlackBerry. Similarly, the 7650 with S60 on the first-generation Symbian, which if I'm not mistaken, only gained multitasking ability with S60v3.2 (~2008). The price of Nokia 7650 back then was €600. While BlackBerry could be compared to Palm, Palm was primarily a PDA, not exactly a phone. Even when it integrated calling capabilities in the early 2000s like the Palm Treo 180, it was essentially still a PDA with added calling functionality but lacking email checking or network access.
2003-2004
In 2003, RIM also introduced the BlackBerry 6210, 6220, 6230, 6280 series. Essentially similar to the 67xx series in functionality but with smaller screens, they featured a sleeker, more compact clamshell design than the 67xx series and were very affordably priced at $299. This generation also set the iconic design language that would define most BlackBerry smartphones in the future. A significant upgrade and change was the adoption of the convenient Mini-USB port in the 6210 series. With the 6710 series and earlier, charging and connecting were done through proprietary ports, requiring docking and connection to the computer via a COM port instead of USB for installing OS or software. By late 2003 and 2004, the BlackBerry 7000 Series was born, comprising the 72xx ($399) series upgrading the 62xx, and the 77xx series upgrading the 67xx. The major upgrades included in these models were in hardware specs and display, running on BBOS 4.1 with enhanced features. The devices transitioned to color displays. But with color displays on the 7000 series, the technology back then was also quite fascinating. It used LCD screens but resembled e-ink displays of today; they remained visible in sunlight without dimming like modern LCDs. The backlight was toggled with physical buttons (as in previous models) and primarily used in low-light conditions.
By this generation, some devices started integrating Wi-Fi, such as the 7270, though not primarily for internet access but for , while devices like the 7290 introduced Bluetooth for hands-free headset connections rather than data transmission. Similarly, the 7520 had a protruding antenna and a powerful external speaker but operated on the Nextel network's iDEN infrastructure, making it incompatible in Vietnam. Additionally, the 7520 featured Walkie-Talkie functionality, serving as a two-way radio alongside other Nextel phones.
In the past, despite owning the 7520, I didn't know about its walkie-talkie feature. Now, reading about it again, I wish I had two 7520s to try it out.
In 2004, BlackBerry also introduced the BlackBerry 7100, a compact device with a 1/2 QWERTY keyboard they called SureType, perhaps targeting female users who prefer a smaller device. This device is interesting for the following reasons:
By late 2004, the BlackBerry 8700 was launched at $299 with a 2-year carrier contract. Both the 7100 and 8700 shared design elements, featuring call answer keys. They transitioned to using better LCD displays with improved color reproduction and higher resolution compared to previous generations. The screen was now protected by a layer of glass. However, being released later, the 8700 not only supported GPRS but also added support for EDGE, making it the first BlackBerry device to offer high-speed web browsing.
The 8700 can be considered to have a sleek, rugged design, much more durable than the 7xxx series. It truly embodies the classic BlackBerry phone with its loud speaker, bright screen, and robust vibration. Throughout my time using BlackBerry devices, I've probably owned around ten 8700s. And mentioning this model will surely evoke nostalgia for those who used BlackBerry in the past: '8700R Made in CAN, golden board, square interference, sealed trackball, diagonally tapered keys.'
At this point, it's fair to say that the TrackWheel era has come to an end to pave the way for a new era. I use the term 'fair to say' because in 2006, BlackBerry paid homage to the TrackWheel by releasing the 8707 and 7130 as slight upgrades to the 8700 and 7100.
Regarding the TrackWheel, it was clever for its time. You could scroll horizontally by default and vertically by pressing Shift and scrolling. However, occasionally, you'd have to open the device, remove the screen, and clean the TrackWheel with alcohol or spray RP7 because it was firmly attached to the mainboard.
During this period, BBOS 4.1 – 4.2 continued to evolve and added many features. With the introduction of color screens, it became possible to customize the phone's interface (theme) for personalization.2005
In 2005, BlackBerry introduced the famous instant messaging service, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), designed for messaging between BlackBerry devices using PIN-to-PIN communication, where each BB device has a unique PIN. BBM operated through the BlackBerry Services network (BIS/BES). This software was equivalent to today's iMessage and boasted faster messaging speeds compared to traditional chat applications like Yahoo Messenger, which were more common on computers at the time. Mobile phones primarily used SMS or required third-party software for chat functionality.
Part 3: 2006-2008 BlackBerry TrackBall series – The Golden Age
2006
In 2006, the BlackBerry Pearl 8100 was introduced at a price of $199 with a two-year contract. This was the first device to abandon the TrackWheel in favor of a much-improved navigation system: the TrackBall, a tiny navigational ball resembling a pearl, as the name suggests. Simultaneously, it marked the debut of BlackBerry devices equipped with a camera, expandable memory, and support for media playback. It also featured a light sensor for automatic screen brightness adjustment and introduced a charging dock system. This model represented a significant exterior upgrade from the 71xx series, boasting a sleek, modern design that was highly appealing at the time.
BBOS 4.2 and its subsequent upgrade to 4.5 for this generation brought significant improvements and added more entertainment features. It seems that BlackBerry, having previously focused primarily on email, messaging, productivity, and security, only began to address entertainment needs at this point. However, phones with cameras and music playback capabilities had been around for quite some time.
To recap, in 2006, BlackBerry introduced upgraded versions of the 7130 and 8707 models mentioned earlier.2007
In 2007, a year of significant milestones for BlackBerry. The year 2007 witnessed the introduction of the BlackBerry 8800, tailored for officials and presidents, priced at $299 with a 2-year contract. It featured the first-ever Fullsize QWERTY interface, boasting a robust, square design while omitting the camera. The 8820 combined the features of the 8800 with Wi-Fi capabilities, while the 8830 merged the 8800 with CDMA support. The Curve series also debuted, featuring an upgraded 3.5mm headphone jack, with the BlackBerry 8300 (GSM) priced at $199 with a 2-year contract, alongside the 8310 (GSM + GPS) and 8320 (GSM + Wi-Fi). The Pearl series received enhancements with the introduction of the 8110 (GSM + GPS) and 8120 (GSM + Wi-Fi). In contrast to the 8800, the Pearl and Curve offered a wide range of color options, with a notable mention of the beautifully designed 8110 Henna Design model.
In 2007, BlackBerry held a 30% market share of smartphones (excluding feature phones) in the U.S. and ranked second globally only behind Nokia [3]. BlackBerry continued to dominate the smartphone market until 2010, maintaining over 40% market share in the U.S. and nearly 20% globally [4], before starting to decline in the subsequent years. The years 2007-2008 also marked the peak of BlackBerry's stock prices, following years of growth, before beginning to decline.
Source: Google Finance
Also in 2007, Apple introduced the first iPhone 2G, a capacitive touchscreen phone with only a single button on the front face, a 'game changer' in a world flooded with physical keyboards.
2008
In 2008, marked a year brimming with creativity for BlackBerry Kicking off with the BlackBerry Bold 9000 priced at $199 with a 2-year contract, a legend of BB, a phone that earned BB the label of being the business phone, and perhaps the most iconic device of BlackBerry. This is a phone seemingly crafted from all the best elements of previous generations. Featuring a stunning display, with no plastic layer on top and a sunken screen below, now the screen is flush with the surface. High-end specs, beautiful interface, the most optimized keyboard through generations. A sleeker design with a chrome frame surrounding the device, luxurious leather back cover, and a metal piece adorning the camera area at the center of the device. Complete with all sorts of connections: 3G, Wifi, GPS
The OS on the Bold 9000 was also upgraded to BBOS 4.6 and later to 5.0 - none of the previous generations could handle this OS anymore, marking a transformation for BlackBerry. The interface, navigation during this period was excellent; we could create folders and organize apps into them. The only downside was the 9000's battery life, sometimes requiring users to carry an extra battery. However, this series also began to experience sudden deaths, power failures that previous models had not encountered before
Next up with the Pearl series, BlackBerry introduced what I consider the sexiest BlackBerry device, the Pearl Flip 8220 and 8230 priced at $149 with a 2-year contract. This was a flip phone with two screens and a 1/2 QWERTY keyboard that still managed to include a TrackBall for navigation. I also had a period of attachment to this device, although back then, every ROM update seemed to cause Bluetooth issues. With the Flip, BlackBerry also made the switch to using Micro-USB for the first time
Alongside the debut of the iPhone 2G and the development of capacitive touch devices, BlackBerry couldn't escape that trend and introduced their first full-touch device, the BlackBerry Storm 9500/9530 or known as Storm 1, priced at $199 with a 2-year contract. This was a very sleek device, with a cool metal back cover, completely different from previous BlackBerry devices. Of course, it also featured accelerometer and proximity sensors like other touch devices of the time
Also in 2008, BlackBerry introduced a new version for the Curve series, the BlackBerry Curve 8900, codenamed Javelin. It featured a black trackball, a design element shared only with the BlackBerry Tour 9630 released in 2009. It had a softer and sleeker appearance compared to the Bold 9000. However, the 8900 did not support 3G, but it compensated with a better camera with autofocus inherited from the Storm, a feature absent in the Bold 9000.
In 2008, Apple launched the App Store, and Google introduced the Android Market, platforms where users could download apps to their phones. At the end of 2008, the first commercial Android device, the HTC Dream, was unveiled. During this period from 2007 to 2008 and for the following years, RIM did not consider these competitors as threats because BlackBerry sales were still increasing.
During this period, we saw BlackBerry undergoing significant transformations. While some technologies like light sensors, proximity sensors, and leather case sensors were being mainstreamed earlier than other brands, there were also signs of sluggishness in entertainment features, camera quality, music playback, and hardware responsiveness.
Regarding the operating system, BlackBerry was still performing quite well at this point. Users could install apps, backup, and restore everything on their phones using the BlackBerry Desktop Manager (BDM) on their computers. However, BlackBerry's strength also stemmed from the fact that other operating systems were still in their infancy. From a developmental standpoint, it was evident that BlackBerry OS at this time didn't offer many new features; it was more about inheriting and enhancing. In contrast, iOS and Android, although nascent, were rapidly evolving with many innovations.Part 4: 2009-2010 BlackBerry TrackPad series – Following the Trends
2009
By 2009, BlackBerry began making changes to adapt to the market and keep up with the times. However, they were slow to adapt and started falling behind. They reached their peak market share in 2010 and then experienced a sharp decline. Around this time, products transitioned to a new navigation tool called the TrackPad. It's called a touchpad, but that's not entirely accurate because the TrackPad operates more like an optical mouse, using reflected light on the surface to determine movement. Therefore, the trackpad doesn't require a conductive surface to function like touch devices; you can navigate the trackpad with anything having a reasonably smooth surface. The Curve line introduced the standard version BlackBerry Curve 8520 with a better price point at $159 with a contract, and it was thinner and lighter. The Bold series was upgraded to the Bold 9700 still priced at $199 with a 2-year contract, featuring a better screen and battery life. It's fair to say that the Bold 9700 and later the Bold 9780 were perhaps the two best devices in the BlackBerry Bold series. Around the same time, there was the Tour 9630 which had a design similar to the 9700 but added CDMA support while still using a TrackBall.
The Storm series was upgraded to Storm 2 with BlackBerry 9520/9550. But oh, BlackBerry was quite quirky, sticking with that SurePress and even upgrading it. While turning a touchscreen into a giant keyboard isn't ideal, the technology beneath the Storm 2's screen was somewhat ahead of its time. Below the Storm 2 screen were 4 buttons at the corners to receive commands when we pressed down on the touchscreen. And the good thing was that when the screen was locked, these 4 buttons also became firm and unresponsive.
Personally, I find its operation somewhat similar to Apple's Force Touch on later devices. The hardware, of course, is different, but when typing on the Storm 2's touchscreen, there's an interesting tactile feedback. However, operational logic determines the level of success. With Apple, you can apply force when touching the screen or touchpad to perform additional actions, whereas with the Storm 2, you had to apply force if you wanted to click something. That's also why BlackBerry's Storm 2, with its quirky usage logic, couldn't keep up with the touchscreen trend of the time and ended up failing.
By 2009, facing pressure from the Apple App Store and Android Market, BlackBerry also introduced BlackBerry App World. App World had a poor selection of apps and wasn't updated frequently; every app update required a complete device restart. In general, the evident lag compared to iOS and Android at that time marked the beginning of BlackBerry's decline.2010
With software upgrades and app store enhancements, BlackBerry continued to introduce new hardware devices in 2010, starting with the Bold 9650 supporting CDMA networks. The Pearl series also saw upgrades to the 9100 with a TrackPad and 3G, along with a variant, the Pearl 9105, featuring a T9 keypad. The Curve series was also upgraded from the 8520 to the 9300.
The Storm series was replaced by the Torch lineup, featuring the BlackBerry 9800, a device with a sliding touchscreen revealing a physical keyboard underneath. This was BlackBerry's first sliding phone, offering the best combination of touchscreen and physical keyboard in a compact form factor at that time.
And we can't forget about the incredibly sleek device, the Style 9760. However, for me, this device is filled with regret because it only supports CDMA and cannot be used in Vietnam.
By the end of 2010, the Bold series was also upgraded with the Bold 9780, with no external changes, only internal enhancements.
At this stage, it's evident that BlackBerry isn't undergoing much change anymore, there are no breakthroughs. They're still using the outdated Java-based operating system, making minor interface changes and adding a few supplementary features. Nokia is in a similar situation, still struggling with Symbian. Meanwhile, iOS and Android are rapidly evolving.
Around the same time, Apple unveiled the iPhone 4 (2010) with numerous hardware and software upgrades, following the successful iPhone 2G, iPhone 3, and iPhone 3s. HTC, renowned for its Windows Mobile devices, began transitioning to Android, finding success with models like the HTC Desire, Desire HD, and Evo 4G. Samsung entered the Android arena with the Galaxy series (2009), while Google collaborated with HTC and Samsung on the Nexus lineup. Additionally, the iPad was introduced in 2010. Everyone was evolving, but BlackBerry remained stagnant.Part 5: 2011-2014 BlackBerry Touch + Physical Keyboard – Clinging to the Past
2011-2012
With the rapid advancement of touchscreen devices, BlackBerry couldn't stay on the sidelines. In 2011, they embraced touch technology for all their devices. However, they stubbornly clung to the aging BlackBerry OS, a platform that had seen many, many, many years. They made some improvements like Cloud backup, but it wasn't enough compared to iCloud at the time.
In 2011, the App World reached 1 billion downloads after 2 years since its launch, an impressive figure on its own. However, during the same period, the Apple App Store had over 15 billion downloads, and the Android Market reached 4.5 billion (excluding other app sources for Android) [5]
Bold Touch 9900 / 9930 was introduced in 2011 with a metal frame and touchscreen, retaining the full keyboard and the beautifully lit new generation Trackpad. It had a slim and light design reminiscent of the Bold 9000. The carbon fiber back cover added a touch of luxury and included NFC, quite early for its time when NFC wasn't common. However, BlackBerry persisted; besides the Bold 9000-like appearance, they also brought back the camera without autofocus on the 9900. A device in 2011 with a 5MP camera lacking autofocus. They even brought back the weak battery life and sudden death issues of the 9000.
The full touchscreen lineup makes a comeback with the Torch 9860, ditching the SurePress concept to create a regular touchscreen phone, while the slide-screen series also gets an upgrade with the Torch 9810. The Curve series also steps up to the Curve 9360. For those seeking a more compact and affordable full touchscreen option, there's the Curve 9380. The Bold 97 series is also upgraded to the Bold 9790 with a sleek design and touchscreen.
Another highlight of 2011 is BlackBerry's collaboration with Porsche Design to create the BlackBerry Porsche Design P’9981 using the internals of the 9900. It's a beautiful device, priced quite high for customers who appreciate luxury, with a distinctive appearance featuring plenty of metal and leather. However, it still has some weaknesses like the 9900, such as weak battery life and keys prone to wear. If I'm not mistaken, the P’9981 was initially sold for $2000 and in Vietnam, it was priced around 45 – 50 million VND, catering to affluent BlackBerry fans.
During this period, BlackBerry also introduced a very interesting new device: a tablet, the BlackBerry PlayBook. This could be seen as their first significant step forward after the world had changed from five years ago. Instead of clinging to the old Java-based operating system, they used a new operating system based on the QNX platform for this tablet and named it BlackBerry Tablet OS.
Comparing the hardware of the PlayBook to the iPad 2 of the same era, the PlayBook's screen is much brighter and more beautiful (170ppi vs 132ppi), with dual stereo speakers that are large and high-quality, and higher resolution front and rear cameras than the iPad 2
Usage also involves many gesture-based interactions, such as swiping to go home or swiping from the top corner to access settings and notifications, and swiping from the sides for multitasking
However, there is still a weakness: the PlayBook lacks many apps and later received insufficient long-term support. Although they collaborated with some third parties to bring some famous apps and games to the PlayBook, it seems that it wasn't enough
In 2012, BlackBerry didn't have any standout devices, aside from releasing an upgrade for the PlayBook with slightly higher specs and 4G LTE support. They focused on developing software for new devices, including the PlayBook and the BlackBerry 10 devices set to launch the following year2013-2014
In 2013, BlackBerry underwent a transformation with the duo Z10, Q10, followed by the launch of Z30, Q5, the Porscher Design P’9982 based on the Z10, later followed by the Porscher Design P’9983 (2014) based on the Q10, all running the brand new BlackBerry 10 operating system. They also rebranded the company from RIM – Research In Motion to BlackBerry in 2013
The downside of this transition is that all high-end devices from 2011 and earlier are not compatible with this operating system. Even the PlayBook suffers the same fate, unable to upgrade to this new operating system. This leaves users with limited choices, forcing them to upgrade if they want to use a newer operating system with more apps and a smoother experience than the outdated BBOS Java platform.
And 2013 marked the end of BlackBerry's growth era as the number of users began to decline from this point onwards, with revenue plummeting sharply in 2013 after peaking in 2011 and maintaining relatively well in 2012.
Personally, from the perspective of a BlackBerry fan back then, investing a lot of money in buying the flagship 9900 in 2012, only to hear the news that BB would use a new operating system that year and BBOS would be replaced. Confidently committing to the PlayBook in 2013, only to hear that the PlayBook would not be supported on BB10. During that period, I was quite disappointed because BlackBerry 'abandoned its offspring' quite a few times. That's also the reason why new users weren't attracted, while loyal users turned their backs. Clearly, if choosing a device that would be known to have no future in just 2 years, customers would choose iPhone or Samsung, which are supported for a long time, 3-4 years or even longer.
Of course, as a loyal fan, I continued to purchase other Flagships like the Z10 or Passport later on, not giving up after two disappointments.
So when BlackBerry officially switched to a new OS supporting touch and better apps, but they were about 7 years behind Apple with iOS and Google with Android in terms of development. They lagged behind for quite a long time, making it difficult to attract users and developers even though BlackBerry 10 OS was a very good and stable operating system. It had some advanced features such as gesture-based navigation for home, notifications, and multitasking, which other operating systems didn't have for quite some time. However, there were too many outdated aspects as well.
In 2013, Apple introduced the iPhone 5s with the iconic fingerprint sensor. Samsung was gaining fame with the 3rd generation of the Galaxy Note series, while BlackBerry was still struggling with the Z10, a high-end device that had almost nothing remarkable in terms of hardware and a brand new operating system trying to cling to old values.
In 2014, BlackBerry introduced the BlackBerry Passport. A unique device with a square screen and a physical keyboard with a touch-sensitive surface. Perhaps this was BlackBerry's last innovative hardware initiative. And of course, with a relatively high price of $599, the Passport might only be suitable for fans. At the same price range, users could choose the iPhone 5S ($549) or the iPhone 6 ($649) at that time.
At the same time, they also launched the BlackBerry Classic, bringing back the TrackPad and the row of menu keys from BBOS. BlackBerry devices now seemed to be made only for 'fans' with many nostalgic features, rather than attracting new users. This is evidenced by the continuous decline in user numbers since 2013, with no sign of stabilization or increase.
Personally, I've used the Z10, Q10, and Passport. The Z10 and Q10 had nothing outstanding apart from the operating system. The Passport stood out more with its touch-sensitive physical keyboard. However, the expensive hardware and the lackluster BlackBerry 10 software couldn't revive BlackBerry, especially when Android and iOS had become too dominant at that time, with more users and apps, making connectivity and communication on iOS and Android better than BlackBerry.
The Passport also marked the end of my journey with BlackBerry phones. Back then, I ordered it from the US and had a friend bring it back, during Black Friday when the limited RED model was discounted from $699 to $599. It was also the first and only BlackBerry device I bought directly from the BlackBerry website back then, without purchasing through any retailers in Vietnam.The End: 2015-2018 BlackBerry Android – Forgotten by the era
BlackBerry held onto BB10 for an extra 2 years until 2015, then they had to switch to Android. By this time, they were trailing behind Samsung by 6 years, HTC by 7 years, and even lagging Xiaomi by 4 years in Android device-making experience. While they were struggling with BBOS 7 Java in the years around 2011, Xiaomi emerged with its first Android device, and just 3 years later, by 2014, Xiaomi became the world's third-largest smartphone manufacturer after Apple and Samsung. The first BlackBerry device to run Android OS was the BlackBerry Priv, introduced in 2015. It was inspired by the old Torch model with its slide-out keyboard design. This was both the first BlackBerry device to run Android and the last device that BlackBerry produced on its own.
They still brought some BlackBerry features to Android like BBM, BlackBerry Hub, a central place for notifications from all apps, a physical keyboard with touch sensitivity, shortcuts... However, these were not enough to attract users, especially considering the relatively high price compared to the available specs.
Even for a loyal user like me, within just 5 years, they underwent 3 major transitions, changing the operating system 3 times, stopping updates for old devices 3 times, which made me quite uncomfortable because the old devices became unusable quickly and fell behind. So, with the new Android device priced like a flagship but with specs not on par with other brands, ordinary hardware, and inexperienced software, I felt it would quickly become outdated. That's why I stopped using BlackBerry. After the Passport, I switched to iPhone.
After the Priv, in 2016, BlackBerry officially ceased hardware production and 'sold out' to TCL. BlackBerry licensed the BlackBerry brand exclusively to TCL for global sales of BlackBerry phones from this point onward. This included some other devices like DTEK50 (2016), DTEK60 (2016), Motion (2017), Evolve (2018). The company itself transitioned from a hardware company to a software and solutions company.
The last two devices with a hint of BlackBerry essence are the KeyOne (2017) and Key2 (2018). The only remaining improvement was the integration of a fingerprint sensor onto the Space key on the KeyOne, while at the same time, iPhone had been using fingerprint sensors for ages, shifting to Face ID by 2017.
During this period, Samsung was thriving with the Galaxy S6 through S9, Note 5 through Note 9, and they introduced the first-generation foldable Z Fold in 2019. Apple had already achieved great success with the iPhone 6s in 2015 along with fingerprint sensors introduced two years prior, and by 2017, they even had the new unlocking method of facial recognition with the iPhone X.
After the Key2, the BlackBerry brand has also disappeared from the smartphone market.
BlackBerry has officially ended support and shut down servers and all services for BlackBerry 10, BlackBerry OS 7.1, BlackBerry Tablet OS 2.1 and earlier, as well as many other services and software like BDM, App World, BBID, BBM, PIN-to-PIN... on January 4, 2022, marking the end of a historical period filled with ups and downs and closing the era of BlackBerry smartphones here.
Of course, by now, some BlackBerry Android models are still functioning well, and undoubtedly, there are still some BlackBerry fans using them. It can be said that this is the only phone manufacturer still loyal to the QWERTY keyboard on the market. Naturally, BlackBerry no longer produces smartphones. Many say they are dead, but in reality, they still exist, they are still alive, and they are still doing business based on their strength in security. It's just that end users like us are no longer customers of BlackBerry.Reflections and Impressions
BlackBerry has traversed a golden era and then declined, much like other brands such as Nokia or Motorola. They were once very successful, and then they failed, but if we call them failures, it seems we inadvertently overlook the successes, achievements, and contributions they once brought to the technology industry. They failed because they once dominated the world, but when the world changed, they remained asleep on their laurels. With BlackBerry, there are many reasons for their downfall, including- Slow response to market changes and competition. When iPhones and touch phones began to emerge, BlackBerry still believed that users preferred keyboards over touch screens
- Wrong market focus. They focused too much on the enterprise market, prioritizing security and safety and forgetting the consumer market, which ultimately became the most important market. As businesses stopped providing phones to employees and implemented 'bring your own device' policies, BlackBerry was gradually replaced by iPhones and Androids
- Lack of collaboration with third parties. While Apple and Google were actively building product ecosystems and opening up to third-party app development, BlackBerry, with its overly stringent security, did not think so. They wanted to do everything themselves (for example, Facebook apps from BBOS or Playbook were all made by RIM). Only when launching BB10 did they change their mindset, and of course, they were much slower than Apple and Google for many years, losing many users in the process. They had nothing left to attract developers, leading to a poor ecosystem and consequently nothing to attract users
Throughout the years from 2009 to 2016, I exclusively relied on BlackBerry as my primary device. I transitioned from low-end to high-end models while also collecting and experiencing vintage ones. Among the numerous BlackBerry models that left the most profound impressions on me were:- BlackBerry 6710 with its square black-and-white screen. Despite already using the Passport, I was genuinely impressed by how a device from 2002 could still access the web seamlessly in 2015.
- BlackBerry 7290 T-Mobile, sporting an elegant jade color, my favorite hue among all BB devices.
- BlackBerry Pearl 8100, my very first BlackBerry device. Alongside this Pearl was the stunning and unique 8110 Sandstone with Henna Design.
- BlackBerry Flip 8220, the sexiest BlackBerry in my opinion, the one I desired the most and found the most distinctive.
- BlackBerry Storm 2 9520, featuring the innovative SurePress technology ahead of its time. It truly impressed me with its screen's tactile feedback even when the device was off.
- BlackBerry 9900, my first brand-new BlackBerry unboxing experience.
- BlackBerry Passport, the first brand-new BlackBerry I purchased directly from the US, in a limited red color. It left a lasting impression with its touch-sensitive keyboard complementing BB10's intuitive swipe gestures.
- BlackBerry PlayBook, I still use one as a clock to this day, and that alone speaks volumes. You can learn more about my journey with it here
