Two days ago, Shi Chao saw a news that said that the BlackBerry phone was dead.
Some bad friends may say that it has not announced its withdrawal from the mobile phone market long ago.
Indeed.
But to be precise, this time, it was actually lying in the coffin.
Because starting today (January 4), BlackBerry 7.1 OS, BlackBerry 10 software, BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 and earlier will all be discontinued.
Speaking of people, the phone can not be made, text messages can not be sent, the network can not be connected, in addition to being a brick self-defense (physical level), that is completely useless.
In fact, when it comes to BlackBerry, I think the most impressive thing is its ultra-recognizable appearance, as well as the security of the so-called "strongest on the surface".
In 2012, TrendMicro, a global leader in cybersecurity software and services, scored the four major mobile operating systems based on a combination of system and firewall evaluation criteria in its commercial security assessment.
In the end, the BlackBerry 7 system received 2.89 points and ranked first, when the iOS5 score was 1.7, the Windows Phone 7.5 scored 1.61 points, and the Android 2.3 was at the bottom with 1.37 points.
It can be said that at that time, someone asked which brand of mobile phone was the safest, BlackBerry said second, no one dared to say first.
This is thanks to BlackBerry's unique encryption system, from mobile phone design, to hardware support, to software adaptation, everything is centered on security.
Take a chestnut.
When sending messages on BlackBerrys, they are transmitted to their own data centers by encryption algorithms and then transmitted to the receiver through the carrier.
The most frustrating thing about this process is that each BlackBerry device and server uses a different key.
In order to pursue the ultimate security, BlackBerry also made the server a one-way exit.
With the previous encryption algorithm and hardware key, not only is it difficult to invade externally, but even BlackBerry itself cannot provide the government with a way to monitor emails.
Because of the blackBerry's military-level encryption technology, which ensures the security of users, it has become the first choice of politicians and businessmen, and its market share in the United States reached 48% at its peak.
Hand-picked by the President of the United States ▼
However, light safety is useless.
In the era of the rise of Android and iOS, the BlackBerry screen is too small, the software is too small, the system is not used to it, who wants to buy it.
Buying to quit Internet addiction is not even close.
Between 2009 and 2013, BlackBerry's mobile phone market share quickly fell from 42% to 3.5%.
16 years has fallen to the bottom, and the mobile phone market share is rounded to equal to zero...
Although BlackBerry actively transformed later, it was too late to return to the sky, and finally simply announced its withdrawal from the mobile phone market.
And that's what happened today.
However, don't be too sorry, although BlackBerry has declined in the mobile phone market, but people in the car market are mixed up that is called a wind and water, hum ha hey.
In 2010, BlackBerry acquired a software company called QNX, which develops operating systems on cars.
I have to say that The good eyes of The BlackBerry gave it a way to live now.
You may not believe it, but BlackBerry's QNX system has a 75% share of the automotive market.
What Audi, BMW, Buick, what Porsche, Hummer, Ford (the following omit hundreds of brands), the vast majority of the world's car brands, nearly 195 million cars have adopted systems based on QNX technology.
You may wonder, what exactly is this QNX hanging, why not use open source Android, Linux systems, but also free customization features.
Put it this way, there is a problem with the mobile phone system, just restart it.
But there is a problem with the car system, that is not a restart, we may have to restart.
Therefore, safety and stability are always the first elements that automakers consider when making systems, even if they give up fluency and new features. (This is also one of the reasons why many car and machine systems are relatively old)
Before the BlackBerry acquisition, QNX was known for its security and stability, and after being acquired by BlackBerry, which is also known for its "security", Shichao can only describe it in one sentence:
Qin Shi Huang touched the wire - won the hemp!
Surveys have shown that android systems have more than 1500 backdoors verified to have backdoors each year, Linux systems have between 200 and 500, and BlackBerry QNX has never exceeded 5.
If I were an automaker, I would choose QNX technology for safety reasons.
Of course, more and more manufacturers choose QNX, or because QNX can adapt to the development of the times.
The automation functions in the car are controlled by the "car brain" ECU, and now there may be hundreds of ECUs in a car, responsible for different automation functions.
In the past two years, with the rise of automatic driving, to achieve different driving assistance functions, whether it is various sensors, or the interaction between radar, the ECU system needs not to have any problems.
On the traditional kernel, an application service crash may cause the entire system to stutter.
However, QNX is designed with a microkernel, which can isolate the various components without affecting each other's stability, and can ensure the stable operation of the system.
And the QNX system is open, if the car manufacturer wants to add some new features, do not overturn the previous system redo, just add it.
Of course, QNX also launched a virtual machine platform a few years ago, which allows multiple ECUs to be installed on the same system, and also supports running Linux and Android systems.
It's like installing an Android emulator on a PC, which not only ensures the security of the computer, but also provides a wealth of applications and games, which can be described as killing two birds with one stone.
It is with these advantages that BlackBerry QNX technology is thriving in the automotive industry.
Needless to say, because of the pursuit of security, blocking the system, BlackBerry mobile phones are gradually eliminated by the rich ecology of Android.
But unexpectedly, also because of the pursuit of safety and stability, BlackBerry began to dominate the automotive market and continue to live.
Perhaps, the dedication to safety is really only suitable for some industries.
This time, I hope that BlackBerry can seize the opportunity and not be eliminated by the times again.
Author: Hedgehog Editor: Polygon Line
Images, sources:
Malay: The Powerhouse Behind the Automotive Circle Do you know blackBerry QNX?
The BlackBerry QNX system has become Android on the car
Xin Zhixun: BlackBerry, which failed miserably in the mobile phone market, why can it become the king of the automotive system market?