A Look Back at When Blackberry Phones Used to Be Cool

Now that BlackBerry officially isn't making phones anymore, let's look back at a simpler time: the early 2000s, when BlackBerry ruled and Apple drooled. (The iPhone didn't exist yet, so BlackBerry was killing the mobile game.)

When the BlackBerry 850 was released in 1999, the cool factor of cell phones began to rise. Throughout the early 2000s, before the rise of advanced touch screen technology, everyone who was anyone was busy scrolling on their trackballs and BBM-ing their besties.

In case you haven't heard the tragic news, this wee BlackBerry announced it will stop making its signature smartphones and instead focus on creating software and its services business. 

During this emotional time, we feel it's necessary to take a look back on the BlackBerry glory days and remember these seven times when BlackBerry phones were undeniably cool.

1. When Paris Hilton worshiped her BlackBerry

Perhaps PEAK BlackBerry coolness occurred when BBM champ and cool girl Paris Hilton attended the launch party for the new BlackBerry Pearl 8130 back in 2008 to show her love for the phone.

2. When the company appointed Alicia Keys its global creative director

Back in 2013, BlackBerry named one of the coolest singers, Alicia Keys, as its global creative director. With this action, BlackBerry, too, became cool by association. For her first project, Keys invited fans to submit photos of themselves via BlackBerry's Keep Moving hub.

3. That time Dustin Hoffman held a BlackBerry with his initials on it

Awesome actor Dustin Hoffman was also at that popular BlackBerry Bold launch party in 2008. There, he held a BlackBerry with his initials on it. Very, very cool!

4. When Michael Scott snapped a picture with the BlackBerry mascot

What's cooler than The Office?! Steve Carell's character, Michael Scott, clearly knew how cool BlackBerry was back in 2006. Scott stopped to show his love for the BlackBerry mascot while at the annual office supply convention in Season 3.

5. That time Hillary Clinton had a Blackberry

In 2011, we see then Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton checking her beloved BlackBerry. As many of you know, Hillary Clinton is now the first major party female candidate in the presidential election which screams.

6. That time Barack Obama ran back to the White House to grab his BlackBerry

Who could forget one of the most epic moments of Barack Obama's presidency: That time in 2014 when he raced back to the White House to retrieve his forgotten BlackBerry. If one of the coolest guys in America cared enough about his BlackBerry to literally sprint back to his house to get it, they had to be cool.

7. When Kim Kardashian had to say goodbye to one of her closest friends, her BlackBerry

Kim Kardashian has been a die-hard BlackBerry fan for YEARS, and a love that strong is most definitely cool. Since the early years of phone bling and pink BlackBerrys, the reality television star has used the devices to make many phone calls via speakerphone on Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

Did you have a good old Blackberry phone back in the day? What are your most precious memories with it?

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