Hold the Phone: RIM Tablet to Run Android Apps?

A match made in heaven?

RIM has been behind in the smartphone market for some time. Despite being available long before the iPhone or the barrage of Android devices we now have, BlackBerries don’t really appeal to the masses in the same way. Their position as the dominant smartphone choice for businessmen means they have a reputation for not being nearly as ‘fun.’ It also took RIM a while to get into the app business and as a result, the BlackBerry App World isn’t nearly as populated as the Android Market place or Apple’s App Store.

However, it seems RIM could finally get a boost when it comes to apps. Boy Genius Report has supposedly been told by multiple trusted sources that RIM is seriously considering a feature that will allow BlackBerry devices to run Android apps. The company has been trying to figure out what approach to take in regards to the existing Java environment and how that will work on its upcoming QNX devices, and has said its looking at getting a Java VM running on the PlayBook to support already existing content.

RIM hasn’t decided what kind of Java VM it will use just yet, but BGR’s sources say it’s heavily considering Dalvik, the same VM the Android OS uses. If RIM does decide to go with Dalvik, it would allow the PlayBook -- which runs on a QNX OS that RIM plans to use in future phones and tablets -- to run applications built for the Android platform. Though RIM could use an open source version of Dalvik and leave Google out of the equation completely, it could also partner up with Google and work out a deal where BB users get Android apps and support for those apps right on their RIM devices.

Would you buy a BlackBerry if it had access to the Android Market Place? Let us know in the comments below!

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Other Comments

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LuckyDucky7 , January 28, 2011 4:40 AM

It's certainly a good idea- I'd be partial to buying a BlackBerry anything if it ran Android applications (had full access to the Android marketplace).

Best of both worlds- the versatility of Android with the stability of the BlackBerry OS.
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otacon72 , January 28, 2011 4:44 AM

I came over to RIM a few years back and to be honest lately I think their devices have been somewhat stale. Probably has more to do with Verizon than RIM in my case. I was already cosidering buying a PlayBook but if it can run Android aps too? No brainer in my book. I don't want another damn contract either so the PlayBook would be a good fit.
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anonymous@guest , January 28, 2011 5:03 AM

Seems to me that this would appeal to the pragmatists that want a broad selection of apps on a very well-equipped device, and to the open source advocates trying to push for dev-friendly flexible options to push future innovations to consumers.
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Darkerson , January 28, 2011 5:25 AM

This could be a good thing for both companies if they partner up. More sales for RIM's phones and Android's apps.
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jbug187 , January 28, 2011 6:44 AM

This is a headline click grab. Why would Big G open the Android app store to RIM? Could you imagine Apple opening up its app store to other devices? The app stores are a major part of what gives each platform its competitive advantage. Why would anyone share that with the competition?
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otacon72 , January 28, 2011 6:51 AM

jbug187This is a headline click grab. Why would Big G open the Android app store to RIM? Could you imagine Apple opening up its app store to other devices? The app stores are a major part of what gives each platform its competitive advantage. Why would anyone share that with the competition?

How does google have any say over it? Apple APs only run on Apple hardware. Android APs run on any device running Android or is compatible with it. RIM capitalizing on what Google did...brilliant.
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anonymous@guest , January 28, 2011 9:14 AM

I did not know android apps are not written natively but instead rely on a layer/framework for abstraction. I kept wondering why on earth are people drooling over dual/quad core 1ghz+ ARM processors with 1GB+ ram, and why each iteration of android demands a huge increase in hardware specs.

Android is so bloated that windows for arm will be seen as a relief.
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enforcer22 , January 28, 2011 9:19 AM

jbug187This is a headline click grab. Why would Big G open the Android app store to RIM? Could you imagine Apple opening up its app store to other devices? The app stores are a major part of what gives each platform its competitive advantage. Why would anyone share that with the competition?

I also don't see why google would even care. Apple yes because they are a bunch of close platform.... anyways. Google "wants to give the world everything for free!" and it also doesn't matter if google lets them access their app store or not anyone would be able to put it on with a small recode anyways. But no to answer the question i could care less if it had android apps on it. Only two "apps" android had that i even cared about was skymap and google navigator. The rest meh gimmick and garbage.
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mayankleoboy1 , January 28, 2011 9:21 AM

best of both the worlds really. power of BB and versatility of android.
take that, APPLE
1

enforcer22 , January 28, 2011 9:23 AM

sorry for the double post. The only thing that makes me want to get this pad actually is the tethering it gets with bb phones and being able to use the Internet through your already paid data plans.. otherwise tablets are useless to me as i don't want to pay for Internet yet a 3rd time. I also don't want to be tied down to crappy wifi connections.
0

otacon72 , January 28, 2011 11:14 AM

How about tethering an LTE iPhone5 to a PlayBook? Jobs would pop a vien in his head.
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techguy378 , January 28, 2011 3:18 PM

If RIM used Dalvik I wonder if they would become part of Oracle's baseless lawsuit against Google.
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Griffolion , January 28, 2011 3:27 PM

jbug187This is a headline click grab. Why would Big G open the Android app store to RIM? Could you imagine Apple opening up its app store to other devices? The app stores are a major part of what gives each platform its competitive advantage. Why would anyone share that with the competition?

Google partnering their app base with RIM can only be good. It means developers will have a greater incentive to develop their apps for Android as they will also automatically hit the RIM user base too. Also considering the 'business' vibe of the Blackberry's user base, these individuals may be more willing to pay for premium rate apps rather than have adverts on open-source ones like many Android users currently do (i'm not criticising, it's simply what happens on Android currently).

I certainly hope RIM and Google partner on this instead of keeping each other at arms length with this venture. It will definitely have benefits for both platforms.
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Griffolion , January 28, 2011 3:30 PM

toalanI did not know android apps are not written natively but instead rely on a layer/framework for abstraction. I kept wondering why on earth are people drooling over dual/quad core 1ghz+ ARM processors with 1GB+ ram, and why each iteration of android demands a huge increase in hardware specs. Android is so bloated that windows for arm will be seen as a relief.

The Android development team are working on a framework for writing in native code which will lead to performance increases, but you're right, there are about four layers including the VM that the code has to go through.
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icemunk , January 28, 2011 6:32 PM

jbug187This is a headline click grab. Why would Big G open the Android app store to RIM? Could you imagine Apple opening up its app store to other devices? The app stores are a major part of what gives each platform its competitive advantage. Why would anyone share that with the competition?

Google is more likely to share access to the market place becauise it would mean more revenue for them, and Android is free open source operating system anyways. Apple is a closed market in every way.
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g00fysmiley , January 28, 2011 8:15 PM

i can get behind allowing apps to work cross platform.... please pay attention palm .. .please
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headscratcher , January 28, 2011 10:29 PM

This is nice for me. I chose a BB over an Android because I consider software from Google to basically be spyware and I can't see doing work email on a Google OS and BB is at least apparently secure, but I knew that I wouldn't get the richer app ecosystem. So, maybe I'll get a little bit of both worlds at some point in the future.
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back_by_demand , January 29, 2011 2:02 AM

The thing people have to remember here is that Android Apps are a misnomer.
They are really Java VM Apps.
For Google to claim sole ownership and rights to be able to run these apps is as ridiculous as having a media player claiming sole rights to playback MP3's.

Anyway, it wouldn't do Google well to fight this one because if Blackberry use an open-source VM they will just look bitter, also having the extra App sales always looks good on the balance sheet.
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icemunk , January 29, 2011 2:11 AM

headscratcherThis is nice for me. I chose a BB over an Android because I consider software from Google to basically be spyware and I can't see doing work email on a Google OS and BB is at least apparently secure, but I knew that I wouldn't get the richer app ecosystem. So, maybe I'll get a little bit of both worlds at some point in the future.

True, its probably is spyware, google has been in bed with the NSA for a long time
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eddieroolz , February 1, 2011 9:26 AM

It's a good idea for RIM but something tells me Google won't be happy with it.

Hold the Phone: RIM Tablet to Run Android Apps?

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