Editing BlackBerry (section)

== Usage ==
[[File:Barack Obama in Air Force Two.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|President Obama with his BlackBerry in its holster on a flight to Caen, Normandy, France, June 5, 2009.]]
Initially the BlackBerry was mostly popular by corporate and business users. By the late 2000s however, a growing number of other consumers were using it.<ref name=":6" />

The (formerly) advanced encryption capabilities of the BlackBerry Smartphone made it eligible for use by government agencies and state forces. On January 4, 2022, BlackBerry announced that older phones running BlackBerry 10, 7.1 OS and earlier will no longer work.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Samantha Murphy Kelly|title=Classic BlackBerry phones stop working today|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/04/tech/blackberry-phones-stop-working/index.html|access-date=2022-01-04|website=CNN|date=January 4, 2022 }}</ref>

=== Barack Obama ===
Former United States president [[Barack Obama]] became known for his dependence on a BlackBerry device for communication during his 2008 Presidential campaign. Despite the security issues, he insisted on using it even after inauguration.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Obama Keeps His BlackBerry in a Hard-Fought E-Victory |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/us/politics/23berry.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 22, 2009 |access-date=September 3, 2015 |issn=0362-4331 |first=Jeff |last=Zeleny}}</ref> This was seen by some as akin to a "[[celebrity endorsement]]", which marketing experts have estimated to be worth between $25 million and $50 million.<ref name=NYT01229 >{{Cite news |title=For BlackBerry, Obama's Devotion Is Priceless |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/business/media/09blackberry.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 8, 2009 |access-date=September 3, 2015 |issn=0362-4331 |first=Stephanie |last=Clifford}}</ref> His usage of BlackBerry continued until around the end of his presidency.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/tech/obama-finally-ditched-blackberry-replacement-040157947.html |title=Obama has finally ditched his BlackBerry, but its replacement will surprise you |first=Trevor |last=Mogg |date=June 12, 2016 |website=Yahoo! Finance |access-date=June 13, 2016 |archive-date=June 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613114118/https://www.yahoo.com/tech/obama-finally-ditched-blackberry-replacement-040157947.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Hillary Clinton ===
The [[Hillary Clinton email controversy]] is associated with [[Hillary Clinton]] continuing to use her black colored BlackBerry after assuming the office of Secretary of State.<ref name="WP032716">{{cite news |first=Robert |last=O'Harrow Jr. |title=How Clinton's email scandal took root |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/how-clintons-email-scandal-took-root/2016/03/27/ee301168-e162-11e5-846c-10191d1fc4ec_story.html |access-date=March 28, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 27, 2016 |quote="The issue here is one of personal comfort," one of the participants in that meeting, Donald Reid, the department's senior coordinator for security infrastructure, wrote afterward in an email that described Clinton's inner circle of advisers as "dedicated [BlackBerry] addicts."}}</ref>

=== Use by government forces ===
An example is the [[West Yorkshire Police]], which allowed the increase in the presence of police officers along the streets and a reduction in public spending, given that each officer could perform desk work directly via the mobile device,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blackberry.com/products/pdfs/WYP_CS.pdf |title=West Yorkshire Police Increase Visibility and Productivity with BlackBerry |website=BlackBerry |access-date=August 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927060842/http://www.blackberry.com/products/pdfs/WYP_CS.pdf |archive-date=September 27, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> as well as in several other areas and situations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://us.blackberry.com/newsroom/success/ |title=BlackBerry Customer Success |website=BlackBerry |access-date=November 5, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623013846/http://us.blackberry.com/newsroom/success/ |archive-date=June 23, 2012}}</ref> The US Federal Government was slow to move away from the BlackBerry platform, a [[United States Department of State|State Department]] spokesperson saying in 2013 that BlackBerry devices were still the only mobile devices approved for [[List of diplomatic missions of the United States|U.S. missions abroad]] by the State Department.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/blackberrys-hope-lies-in-slow-poke-federal-washington/2013/09/25/61b304ee-2610-11e3-b3e9-d97fb087acd6_story.html |title=BlackBerry still reigns in Washington, slow-poke capital of the world |last=Kang |first=Cecilia |date=2013-09-25 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=2018-05-08 |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> The [[FIPS 140-2|high encryption standard]] that made BlackBerry smartphones and the [[BlackBerry PlayBook|PlayBook]] tablet unique, have since been implemented in other devices,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Validated 140-1 and 140-2 Cryptographic Modules |url=http://csrc.nist.gov/groups/STM/cmvp/documents/140-1/140val-all.htm |website=Computer Security Resource Center |access-date=September 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226152243/http://csrc.nist.gov/groups/STM/cmvp/documents/140-1/140val-all.htm |archive-date=December 26, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> including most Apple devices released after the iPhone 4.
The [[Bangalore City Police]] is one of the few police departments in [[India]] along with the [[Pune Police]] and [[Kochi Police]] to use BlackBerry devices.<ref name="blorebb">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/18/stories/2008031861030300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324005805/http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/18/stories/2008031861030300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 24, 2008 |title=Use of BlackBerry devices by traffic police in city not to be affected |date=March 18, 2008 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=July 5, 2009}}</ref><ref name="iekochibb">{{cite news |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/kochi-traffic-police-go-blackberry/416576/ |title=Kochi traffic police go Blackberry |date=January 29, 2009 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=May 6, 2015}}</ref>

=== Use by transportation staff ===
In the [[United Kingdom]], [[South West Trains]] and [[Northern Rail]] issued BlackBerry devices to guards in order to improve the communication between control, guards and passengers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/smart%20phones%20issued%20to%20850%20south%20west%20trains%20guards.aspx |title=Smartphones issued to 850 South West Trains Guards in drive to improve passenger communication |website=South West Trains |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227081310/http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/smart%20phones%20issued%20to%20850%20south%20west%20trains%20guards.aspx |archive-date=February 27, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.blackberry.com/newsroom/success/northernrail.jsp |title=Northern Rail – Case Study |website=BlackBerry UK |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216023754/http://uk.blackberry.com/newsroom/success/northernrail.jsp |archive-date=February 16, 2012}}</ref>

In [[Canada]], [[Toronto]] and many other municipalities within Canada issued BlackBerry devices to most of its employees including but not limited to transportation, technical, water and operations inspection staff and all management staff in order to improve the communication between contracted construction companies, its winter maintenance operations and to assist and successfully organize multimillion-dollar contracts. The devices were the standard mobile device to receive e-mail redirected from GroupWise.

As part of their [[Internet of Things]] endeavours, the company announced plans of moving into the shipping industry by adapting the smartphones devices to the communication necessities of freight containers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/blackberry-going-after-shipping-industry-with-cloud-management-platform-1.2177427 |title=BlackBerry going after shipping industry with cloud management platform |website=[[CTV News]] |date=January 7, 2015 |access-date=January 12, 2015}}</ref>

=== Other notable users ===

As of 2024, [[Eminem]] uses a BlackBerry OS phone.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mahadevan |first=Tara |url=https://complex.com/music/a/cmplxtara-mahadevan/eminem-still-uses-a-blackberry |title=Why Eminem still uses a Blackberry in 2024 |website=Complex |access-date=February 27, 2025 |date=February 26, 2025}}</ref>

[[Kim Kardashian]] was also a BlackBerry user. In 2014, she reportedly said at the Code/Mobile conference that "BlackBerry has my heart and soul. I love it. I'll never get rid of it" and "I have anxiety that I will run out and I won't be able to have a BlackBerry. I'm afraid it will go extinct." Kardashian also admitted to keeping a supply of BlackBerry phones with her because she was loyal to the [[BlackBerry Bold]] model. She has since been spotted using an iPhone instead.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Deschamps|first=Tara|date=2022-01-03|title=Many BlackBerry phones to stop working|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/many-blackberry-phones-to-stop-working-1.5726127|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-03|website=CTV News|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103180419/https://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/many-blackberry-phones-to-stop-working-1.5726127|archive-date=January 3, 2022}}</ref>

[[Katy Perry]] was also a BlackBerry user. She used the 8800 in her [[Part of Me (Katy Perry song)|Part of Me]] music video, used the Bold 9780, Torch and other models in her [[Katy Perry: Part of Me|film]], was seen using the Curve 8900 and Bold 9900<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bbvietnam.com/threads/katy-perry-va-blackberry.6639 |title=Katy Perry và BlackBerry |website=BBVietnam |access-date=February 27, 2025 |date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> and attended the launch of the Pearl Flip.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://katyperrycn.net/photo/pnaWQ9MzIzNiZjYXRpZD00MSZwbj0x |title=Z100 & Blackberry All Access Lounge |website=KatyPerryChina |access-date=February 27, 2025 |date=December 12, 2008}}</ref> In 2012, she switched to the iPhone 4S for 2 weeks and switched back to BlackBerry for the keyboard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blackberryvzla.com/2011/12/la-estrella-katy-perry-probo-un-iphone.html |title=La estrella Katy Perry probo un iPhone 4S no le gusto y regreso a su BlackBerry |website=BlackberryVzla |access-date=February 27, 2025 |date=2012}}</ref> She has since been spotted using an iPhone instead.

[[E.L. James]] wrote [[Fifty Shades of Grey]] on her BlackBerry.<ref>{{cite web |last=Acuna |first=Kirsten |url=https://businessinsider.com/fifty-shades-of-grey-written-on-blackberry-2015-2 |title='Fifty Shades of Grey': Author Wrote Much of Book on Blackberry - Business Insider |website=Business Insider |access-date=February 27, 2025 |date=February 17, 2015}}</ref>

Nigerian author [[Stephen Buoro]] wrote the first draft of his debut novel on his BlackBerry.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Stephen Buoro Brings to Life "HXVX," a Loveable Teen Protagonist, and Modern Nigeria in All its Beauty, Contradictions, and Permutations |journal=[[Chicago Review of Books]] |url=https://chireviewofbooks.com/2023/05/08/the-five-sorrowful-mysteries-of-andy-africa/ |last=Riehl |first=Peter |date=2023-05-08}}</ref>

[[Eric Schmidt]], Executive Chairman of [[Google]] from 2001 to 2011, was a longtime BlackBerry user. Although smartphones running Google's [[Android (operating system)|Android]] mobile [[operating system]] compete with BlackBerry, Schmidt said in a 2013 interview that he uses a BlackBerry because he prefers its keyboard.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Surprise! Google chairman Eric Schmidt uses.. a BlackBerry |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/mar/21/eric-schmidt-blackberry-user |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=September 3, 2015 |first=Charles |last=Arthur |date=March 21, 2013}}</ref>

The Italian criminal group known as the [['Ndrangheta]] was reported in February 2009 to have communicated overseas with the [[Gulf Cartel]], a Mexican drug cartel, through the use of the BlackBerry Messenger, since the BBM Texts are "very difficult to intercept".<ref>{{cite news |title=Narco-mafia se comunican por Blackberry |url=http://www.cnnexpansion.com/actualidad/2009/02/19/mafia-italiana-en-contacto-con-narcos |access-date=January 20, 2012 |website=[[CNN Expansión]] |date=February 19, 2009 |language=es |archive-date=December 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226090127/http://www.cnnexpansion.com/actualidad/2009/02/19/mafia-italiana-en-contacto-con-narcos |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

=== In popular culture ===

In August 2022, it was announced that a [[docudrama]] film about the history of the BlackBerry brand, simply titled ''[[BlackBerry (film)|BlackBerry]]'', had [[Wrap (filmmaking)|wrapped production]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Ravindran |first=Manori |date=2022-08-23 |title='BlackBerry': Story of Doomed Smartphone Company Casts Jay Baruchel & Glenn Howerton, XYZ Films Boards Sales for TIFF (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/global/blackberry-movie-smartphone-jay-baruchel-1235347842/ |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Heater |first=Brian |date=2022-08-23 |title=BlackBerry movie stars Dennis from 'It's Always Sunny' |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/23/someone-made-a-blackberry-movie-starring-dennis-from-its-always-sunny/ |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Get ready for a movie based on the rise and fall of BlackBerry |url=https://www.engadget.com/blackberry-movie-104051122.html |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=Engadget |date=August 24, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> The film, written by [[Matt Johnson (director)|Matt Johnson]] and [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1546969/?ref_=ttfc_fc_wr4 Matthew Miller], was adapted from the book ''Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry.'' ''[[BlackBerry (film)|BlackBerry]]'' features [[Jay Baruchel]] and [[Glenn Howerton]] in the principal roles of Lazaridis and [[Jim Balsillie]] respectively, with writer/director [[Matt Johnson (director)|Johnson]] portraying [[Douglas Fregin|Doug Fregin]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=BlackBerry About the Show |url=https://www.cbc.ca/mediacentre/program/blackberry |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=CBC Media Centre}}</ref> In September 2022, the rights to the film's distribution in the U.S. were acquired by [[IFC Films]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Ravindran |first=Manori |date=2022-09-08 |title=IFC Films Buys 'BlackBerry' Movie, About World's First Smartphone (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/global/blackberry-movie-us-distributor-ifc-films-1235362340/ |access-date=2022-10-28 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> It was released in May 2023.<ref name=":5" /> There was an extended three-part miniseries released in fall 2023, with each episode running 60 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BLACKBERRY |url=https://solutionsmedia.cbcrc.ca/en/shows/blackberry/ |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=solutionsmedia.cbcrc.ca |language=fr}}</ref><ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hudson |first=Alex |date=2023-06-01 |title='BlackBerry' Is Being Turned into a TV Series |url=https://exclaim.ca/film/article/blackberry_is_being_turned_into_a_tv_series |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=Exclaim}}</ref>