{"id":12369,"date":"2022-02-11T20:31:10","date_gmt":"2022-02-11T20:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/11\/planned-5g-blackberry-smartphone-reportedly-dies-crushing-hopes-of-few-remaining-fans\/"},"modified":"2022-02-11T20:31:10","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T20:31:10","slug":"planned-5g-blackberry-smartphone-reportedly-dies-crushing-hopes-of-few-remaining-fans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/11\/planned-5g-blackberry-smartphone-reportedly-dies-crushing-hopes-of-few-remaining-fans\/","title":{"rendered":"Planned 5G BlackBerry smartphone reportedly dies, crushing hopes of few remaining fans"},"content":{"rendered":"

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OnwardMobilities\u2019 plan to release a new keyboard-equipped, Android-powered 5G BlackBerry device is reportedly dead, according to a report from CrackBerry<\/em><\/a> and Android Police<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Texas-based OnwardMobility first announced the device back in 2020 following TCL\u2019s decision to no longer license the once-formidable Canadian company\u2019s name. Rumours pointed to a smartphone that looked very similar to 2015\u2019s BlackBerry Priv, which featured a sliding screen and a physical keyboard. The smartphone was reportedly set to release in 2021, but that didn\u2019t end up happening.<\/p>\n

CrackBerry\u2019s<\/em> <\/a>report, which cites \u201cmultiple sources,\u201d says that \u201cOnwardMobility and their BlackBerry 5G keyboard phone dream are dead.\u201d Android Police<\/em> says that OnwardMobility\u2019s license to use the brand has been cancelled and that BlackBerry CEO John Chen is no longer interested in licensing the companies name.<\/p>\n

Though BlackBerry exited the consumer smartphone industry back in 2016, it licensed its brand to TCL. This resulted in the release of several BlackBerry-branded smartphones, including the relatively well-received KEYone line<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Though it\u2019s probably still a little early to be entirely certain, it\u2019s likely that this was the once iconic Canadian tech company\u2019s last chance at resurrection in the smartphone space \u2014 especially if Chen is no longer interested in licensing the now security software-focused companies name.<\/p>\n

Last month, BlackBerry shut down support for BB10-powered devices, which includes smartphones like the Classic, the Z10<\/a> and the Q10<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Image credit: Shutterstock<\/em><\/p>\n

Source: CrackBerry, <\/a>Android Police<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n