After reports about OnwardMobility losing the licence to use the BlackBerry name and branding, the company today confirmed that it will be shutting down, and will no longer be proceeding with the development of the BlackBerry 5G phone with a physical keyboard.
This comes after OnwardMobility signed an agreement with BlackBerry and FIH Mobile Limited, a subsidiary of Foxconn back in 2020, to sell new smartphones starting with a 5G BlackBerry Android smartphone with a physical keyboard. Last month, the company announced that it is still planning to launch its smartphone soon.
BlackBerry ended all internal hardware development and outsourced it to partners in 2016. TCL Communication made the BlackBerry phones till 2020 that when the OnwardMobility got a deal to make the phones. It is not clear if BlackBerry will sign a deal with a new company to bring back the BlackBerry 5G Android phone.
We want to thank you all for the tremendous amount of support that you have given us since we first launched OnwardMobility. However, it is with great sadness that we announce that OnwardMobility will be shutting down, and we will no longer be proceeding with the development of an ultra-secure smartphone with a physical keyboard.
Please know that this was not a decision that we made lightly or in haste. We share your disappointment in this news and assure you this is not the outcome we worked and hoped for.
We are incredibly grateful to the team of seasoned professionals who worked tirelessly on this project and to each and every one of our loyal fans and partners who have supported us throughout this journey. It has been a pleasure to work with all of you and hear your comments and feedback.
Thank you for all your support and we wish you all the best!