BlackBerry enthusiasts probably shouldn't hold their breath while they wait for OnwardMobility to finally release the 5G-compatible, keyboard-equipped smartphone that was originally supposed to arrive in 2021, because the company has reportedly lost the rights to the brand name.
CrackBerry and Android Police report that OnwardMobility's plans to release a new BlackBerry have been scuttled. Both reports indicate that BlackBerry wants to sever its ties with the smartphone market entirely as it continues its transition into the security market.
Android Police reports that OnwardMobility "decided not to go ahead" with this initial product launch due to a combination of "continued supply chain-related delays" and "BlackBerry CEO John Chen's change of heart around putting its brand on yet another smartphone."
It's not like OnwardMobility released many details about its BlackBerry smartphone anyway. The company said in 2020 that it planned to release the product in the first half of 2021, but that wasn't the case, and by November 2021 it still hadn't offered any information about the device.
OnwardMobility did publish a blog post on Jan. 6 in which it claimed it "will be providing more regular updates starting this month that will clarify and answer many of your questions about the ultra-secure 5G enterprise smartphone (still with a keyboard!) we’re bringing to market."
The company still hasn't shared any further details about its plans via its blog or social media accounts, however, and it hasn't responded to our request for comment. Never say never, but at the moment it seems unlikely that OnwardMobility's new BlackBerry will actually be released.