January 19, 1999; 25 years ago (1999-01-19) (as Version 1.0 for BlackBerry 850 pager)[2] March 4, 2002; 22 years ago (2002-03-04) (as Version 3.6 for BlackBerry 5810 smartphone)[3][4]
Updates to the operating system were automatically available from wireless carriers that supported the BlackBerry over the air software loading (OTASL) service.
Third-party developers wrote software using the available BlackBerry API classes, although applications that made use of certain functionality needed to be digitally signed.
Research from June 2011 indicated that approximately 45% of mobile developers were using the platform.[6]
BlackBerry OS was discontinued after the release of BlackBerry 10 in January 2013,[7] and support for it ceased on January 4, 2022.[8]
In April 2010, BlackBerry Limited announced BlackBerry OS 6.0, which was released in the third quarter of 2010.[9] This version included a new WebKit-based browser.[10]
7.0
August 2011; 13 years ago (2011-08)
BlackBerry OS 7 featured various performance improvements (including use of "Liquid Graphics" technology to improve touchscreen performance), a "significantly enhanced" web browser (including HTML video support), voice-activated search, and "BlackBerry Balance"—a feature allowing personal and work-related content to be separated from each other on a single device. This version launched exclusively on new BlackBerry models concurrently announced, including the Bold 9900 and 9930, and Torch 9810 and 9860, among others, with BlackBerry Limited stating that it would not release updates for existing devices.[11][12]
7.1
January 2012; 12 years ago (2012-01)
This was an update to 7.0 and added several new features compared to it, including[13]
While it was later superseded by the BlackBerry 10 operating system, it remained available particularly on the BlackBerry 9720.
Version
Release date
Features / Information about
BlackBerry 9720
The BlackBerry 9720 runs a version of BlackBerry OS 7.1 with updates to the user interface that mimics BlackBerry 10, including a new lock screen, Application Switcher and Music, Pictures, Videos and Phone apps.[14]
While BlackBerry Limited developed and released updated versions of its operating system for each device, individual carriers decided if and when a version was released to their users.
BlackBerry OS has now reached end-of-life.[8] Therefore, devices running it are no longer sold new.
Version
Supported devices: BlackBerry 8000 series
4.5
BlackBerry devices in the 8100 and 8800 series, plus BlackBerry Curve 8300/8310/8320.
On September 27, 2010, BlackBerry Limited announced a new unrelated QNX-based platform, BlackBerry Tablet OS, to run on its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet computer.[18]
^"How to set the font family "ARIAL" in the RichTextField?". July 13, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2011. Prior to OS 5.0, you were restricted to the fonts installed by BlackBerry Ltd. on your Blackberry. If you are trying to get Arial on a pre OS 5.0 device, you can not.
