BlackBerry pivots to cybersecurity, powering QNX in millions of vehicles

BlackBerry, once a leading smartphone maker with devices such as the Pearl 8100, Bold and Curve, saw its U.S. user base fall from 21 million to 9 million after the rise of Apple’s iPhone and Android. By 2016, its market share in the United States was just 0.8 % compared with 43.9 % for iOS. After a leadership change that brought John Chen to the helm, the company abandoned its phone business and refocused on cybersecurity. The 2010 acquisition of QNX Software Systems gave BlackBerry a robust operating system used for embedded safety‑critical applications. Today, QNX is deployed in 24 of the 25 major electric‑vehicle manufacturers, installed in roughly 300 million cars across more than 270 brands and models, positioning BlackBerry as a key player in automotive cybersecurity.