New Beginnings for BlackBerry? Rumors of a Smartphone Comeback Spark Excitement
The once-thriving BlackBerry brand, synonymous with physical keyboards and secure communications, faced a significant decline after the emergence of touchscreen smartphones. However, a glimmer of hope has surfaced thanks to a vague social media post hinting at a potential revival of BlackBerry devices. With whispers of a startup aiming to take the torch from previous efforts, BlackBerry fans are once again allowed to dream of a new 5G-enabled smartphone.
Back in February 2020, TCL, a Chinese manufacturer, decided to discontinue its attempt to promote Android-based BlackBerry phones, leading many to believe the iconic brand was heading for extinction. After their license agreement, TCL had released devices such as the BlackBerry KEYone and KEY2 but failed to capture consumer interest in a saturated market that prioritized sleek designs and powerful features.
In August of the same year, a promising glimmer appeared when Onward Mobility announced a licensing agreement to create new BlackBerry smartphones featuring 5G capabilities, although hopes dimmed when 2021 ended without a release. More distressing was BlackBerry's decision to sell its mobile patents for a hefty $600 million in February 2022, followed by Onward Mobility's subsequent announcement that their project to revive the BlackBerry brand was officially dead.
Since their exit from the mobile market, all eyes have been on the BlackBerry brand, awaiting any signs of its resurrection. A recent Reddit post by user "coldheartedsigma" seems to indicate that a U.K. startup may be on the verge of rekindling the BlackBerry flame. According to the post, this unnamed company is in the early stages of securing funding with investors and aims to produce new BlackBerry smartphones with physical QWERTY keyboards.
The initiative claims to want to fulfill what Onward Mobility left unfinished. The post suggests that they are negotiating exclusive licensing rights for BlackBerry's patents, which raises anticipation among fans eager to hold a smartphone reminiscent of the old days.
Although details are scarce due to a non-disclosure agreement, the Redditor managed to share a snapshot of a pitch deck highlighting a 5G-enabled BlackBerry phone's design and specifications. Key features include:
- An AMOLED display of undetermined size.
- 12GB RAM, and storage options of 256GB or 512GB.
- A capacitive physical QWERTY keyboard.
- 5G connectivity.
- Generative AI capabilities.
- Android 15.
The company reportedly has a roadmap for several products boasting physical QWERTY keyboards, although timelines remain vague, indicating the first device may still be years away. Notably, Malikie Innovations currently possesses BlackBerry’s mobile patents and is open to licensing the extensive portfolio acquired in their acquisition.
