BlackBerry’s in-house mobile platforms (BlackBerry OS 7.1 and earlier, BlackBerry 10, and PlayBook OS) reached end-of-life status (EOL) on December 31, 2021. The company said that this meant calls, data, SMS, emergency calls, and more would no longer “reliably function.”
BlackBerry’s Android phones weren’t part of this announcement though, but a keen-eyed CrackBerry forum member (h/t: Liliputing) found that several Android apps are indeed reaching end-of-life status too.
The company’s software lifecycle page specifically notes that the Password Keeper, DTEK, BlackBerry Launcher, Privacy Shade, and Keyboard apps are all reaching end-of-life status on August 31, 2022. The page also reveals that BlackBerry already ended support for several other Android apps in 2019, such as the Device Search, Productivity Tab, Power Center, and BlackBerry Blend apps.
What does this mean?
Nevertheless, the BlackBerry Launcher, DTEK security suite, Password Keeper, Privacy Shade, and Keyboard apps were all available on the BlackBerry KeyOne, Key2, Key2 LE, and Motion Android phones. So this is a disappointing turn of events if you were hoping to hold onto these phones for longer.
In saying so, Liliputing notes that BlackBerry’s Android apps that have already reached EOL status are still available via the Play Store. But you’ll be on your own if you run into any problems or if these apps cease working altogether. It also seems unlikely that Onward Mobility’s new BlackBerry-branded phone, now tipped to arrive in 2022, will use these apps.
Either way, there are alternatives to some of these apps and services. But we hope to see Privacy Shade functionality in particular come to stock Android, as it’s a handy feature to fight screen peeking.
