BlackBerry has announced that TCL Communication will stop making its smartphones from August 2020. TCL Communication started making Android smartphones under the BlackBerry brand back in 2017.
The company posted on Twitter that the agreement between the two companies would end on the 31st of August.
If you own a BlackBerry smartphone then TCL will continue to support the handset until the 31st of August 2020.
Background and History
BlackBerry, once a dominant player in the smartphone market, has seen a significant decline in its market share over the years. The company was known for its secure email services and physical keyboards, which were highly popular among business professionals. However, with the advent of iOS and Android smartphones, BlackBerry struggled to keep up with the rapidly changing technology landscape.
In an attempt to revive its brand, BlackBerry entered into a licensing agreement with TCL Communication in 2017. TCL, a Chinese electronics company, took over the manufacturing and distribution of BlackBerry-branded Android smartphones. This partnership aimed to leverage TCL’s manufacturing capabilities and BlackBerry’s brand recognition to regain a foothold in the competitive smartphone market.
End of an Era
The announcement that TCL Communication will stop making BlackBerry smartphones marks the end of an era. The agreement between the two companies will officially end on the 31st of August 2020. While TCL will continue to support existing BlackBerry handsets until that date, the future of BlackBerry smartphones remains uncertain.
There are no details as yet on why TCL has decided to stop making the BlackBerry phones. It is possible that the partnership did not yield the expected results in terms of sales and market penetration. Additionally, the smartphone market is highly competitive, with major players like Apple, Samsung, and Huawei dominating the landscape. This could have made it challenging for BlackBerry-branded devices to gain significant traction.
Future Prospects
As of now, there are no details on whether we will see any new BlackBerry smartphones in the future. However, it is likely that BlackBerry will be looking for a new manufacturing partner for their devices. The company has a strong brand legacy and a loyal customer base, particularly among business professionals who value security and productivity features.
One potential avenue for BlackBerry could be to focus on software and services rather than hardware. The company has already made strides in this direction with its BlackBerry Enterprise Solutions, which offer secure communication and collaboration tools for businesses. By leveraging its expertise in security and software, BlackBerry could continue to provide value to its customers without the need to manufacture its own smartphones.
Another possibility is that BlackBerry could partner with another electronics manufacturer to produce new devices. There are several companies that might be interested in leveraging the BlackBerry brand to enter or expand their presence in the smartphone market. Such a partnership could help BlackBerry maintain its presence in the hardware space while benefiting from the manufacturing and distribution capabilities of a new partner.
The end of the agreement between BlackBerry and TCL Communication marks a significant moment in the history of BlackBerry smartphones. While the future of BlackBerry-branded devices remains uncertain, the company’s strong brand legacy and expertise in security and software provide potential avenues for continued success. Whether through new partnerships or a focus on software and services, BlackBerry has the opportunity to adapt and thrive in the ever-evolving technology landscape.
Source BlackBerry / Twitter
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