RIM is looking to boost BlackBerry sales by adding the ability to download Android apps onto its smartphones, according to sources familiar with the plans.
The sources said RIM's new QNX software will be compatible with Android, meaning users should get a significantly wider choice of apps, Bloomberg reported.
There are over 250,000 apps on the Android Market, which could boost the popularity of BlackBerrys. RIM has been losing ground in the global smartphone share battle, as Apple and Samsung now lead the way in terms of hardware sales worldwide.
RIM has already said its PlayBook tablet, which also runs on the QNX software, would be able to run Android applications. One of the sources said the same Android app player from the PlayBook would be installed on BlackBerry phones.
The addition of an Android player would come pre-installed on new phones, rather than be issued within an OS upgrade, according to the source.
As part of its bid to reassert itself on the market, BlackBerry has launched a host of phones based on the new BlackBerry 7 OS this month. This included the BlackBerry Curve 9360 on Tuesday.
BlackBerry will want to look at the security implications of including Android apps, however. Recent data has showed just how prominent malicious Android apps are becoming.
Android was the most targeted mobile platform by new malware in the second quarter of 2011, with plenty of threats coming via Trojanised apps.
-
Hounslow Council partners with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to build resilience and transition away from legacy techSpomsored One of the most diverse and fastest-growing boroughs in London has completed a massive cloud migration project. Supported by AWS, it was able to work through any challenges
-
Salesforce targets better data, simpler licensing to spur Agentforce adoptionNews The combination of Agentforce 360, Data 360, and Informatica is more context for enterprise AI than ever before
-
A strategic approach to security: Intelligent, collaborative, and efficientwhitepaper How your security fabric can address the challenges of new tech investment
-
Anticipate, prevent, and minimize the impact of business disruptionsWhitepaper Nine best practices for building operational resilience
-
Thwart cyberthreats fast with security operations + AI OpsWhitepaper How automated collaboration saves the day
-
Three steps to transforming security operationsWhitepaper How to be more agile, effective, collaborative, and scalable
-
Top ten ways to anticipate, eliminate, and defeat cyber threats like a bossWhitepaper Improve your cyber resilience and vulnerability management while speeding up response times
-
Automation antidotes for the top poisons in cyber security managementWhitepaper How orchestration and collaboration tools can provide a healthy defense against the most serious threats
-
A prudent approach to major security incidentsWhitepaper Establish an effective strategy across four phases
-
Cybercriminals are resilient. How about you?Whitepaper Stay ahead of those agile bad actors
