BlackBerry’s Transformation: Trading Smartphones for Autonomous Cars

Call it a phoenix rising from the ashes or a veteran reborn, but BlackBerry is staging a comeback. No longer associated solely with the classic mobile phone that bore its name, the company has seamlessly transitioned into the realms of self-driving and connected cars. Despite the smartphone business ceding its leadership pedestal, BlackBerry’s QNX division is blossoming with its self-driving car unit that is already testing on Canadian roads. Furthermore, the company has plans to invest $75 million in its Ottawa facility.

It should be noted that this is not uncharted territory for BlackBerry. Having reportedly worked on this software for nearly two decades, it is safe to opine that BlackBerry is returning to one of its foundational businesses.

Software development is rooted in BlackBerry’s DNA. While their mobile operating system (OS) may no longer be a pivotal part of the smartphone landscape, this is less attributable to the software itself and more a result of the stern competition from behemoths like Apple and Samsung. BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), designed as a cross-platform application, has demonstrated the company’s software prowess. As of 2015, BBM found residence in over 190 million devices worldwide. To lend some perspective, upon its launch on Android and iOS in October 2013, BBM racked up 5 million downloads in the first 8 hours and closed the day at 10 million. By the end of the year, BBM was ranked as the number one free app on both the App Store and Google Play.

Not limited to mobile platforms, BlackBerry’s infotainment software is currently being utilized in roughly 60 million cars globally. This impressive stat, coupled with the company’s commitment to investing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) components, positions BlackBerry favorably in the race towards dominance in the self-driving (autonomous) and connected cars industry.

To fans of the once-reigning champion of the smartphone era, this news may even serve as comfort. BlackBerry’s continuing technological journey reflects the company’s inextinguishable spirit and perseverance, proving that it remains relevant and innovative even as the world around it changes.

The field of autonomous technology, however, remains fiercely competitive. Companies like Uber have already commenced self-driving services in US cities, including Pittsburgh and San Francisco – showing that the race to the future, much like BlackBerry’s indomitable spirit, is in full swing.