Rumor: New BlackBerry smartphones to run Android apps

Sales of RIM's BlackBerry smartphones have been on the wane in the US. However, it has been reported that phones to be released next year by the company may be able to run Android apps, which could well grab the attention of consumers.

In a shrewd move to increase its appeal among consumers and kick-start sales, the next generation of BlackBerry smartphones could be designed to run Android apps. It is thought the phones will be launched in the first half of next year.

The news comes via Bloomberg, which cited “three people familiar with the plan” as its source.

Research In Motion (RIM), the Canadian company behind the BlackBerry product line, is currently building smartphones that will use its new QNX software. Phones with QNX will be able to run Android apps, the sources said.

Such a move is likely to heighten the appeal of BlackBerry smartphones among consumers. BlackBerry phones run on the BlackBerry OS, but this means they can only run apps from BlackBerry App World.

It has to be said, App World looks a bit sorry for itself when compared to Google’s Android Market. App World currently has around 40,000 apps available for download. If next year’s phones are able to run Android apps, that’ll open up owners of the new BlackBerry devices to a further quarter of a million. If BlackBerry can create some unique, feature-rich phones in the coming months, that may well cause consumers to pay RIM’s devices some serious attention.

Speaking to Bloomberg, Steven Li, a Raymond James Ltd analyst in Toronto, said, “Being able to run Android apps, that’s a big plus. If you get the tonnage of Android apps and the top 50 apps through BlackBerry’s App World, that addresses many of the concerns people have about RIM’s ecosystem.”

RIM has seen a decline in sales of its smartphones in the US although in other countries sales are growing. The Ontario-based company will be reporting earnings on September 15 and has said it believes quarterly sales could fall for the first time in nine years.

Leaked: OS 7.0.0.353 for the BlackBerry Bold 9930

To go along with OS 7.0.0.353 for the BlackBerry Bold 9900, you CDMA Bold 9930 owners get the same OS. Again, not sure what has changed in this update, especially whether or not NFC is present. As always, make sure you back up your data first and heed the warning below.

*OS Disclaimer - Please Read: Keep in mind this is NOT a.n official release and as such is not supported by RIM or your Carrier. If you choose to install, do so at your own risk and only if you're comfortable in the process of upgrading and downgrading your device software. It is quite normal during operating system development for certain features to be crippled or disabled while others are tested, and these beta builds often reflect that. They are not always better. Depending on your BlackBerry comfort level, it may be best for you to wait for community feedback on a build before deciding to download and install for yourself or simply wait for the next official release. If you require support, you will find it in our CrackBerry forums via our extremely knowledgeable community base - do not contact your carrier or RIM for Beta OS technical support (their first course of action will be to advise you to downgrade to a supported OS). *

Download OS 7.0.0.353 for the BlackBerry Bold 9930
Discuss in the forums

Source: N4BB

BlackBerry Phones Will Get Android Apps

RIM will add access to Android apps on BlackBerry phones that run its new QNX operating system, Bloomberg reports.

New BlackBerry phones will switch to QNX by Q1 2012, by most reports. The current BlackBerry 7 phones will not be able to upgrade to QNX.

The BlackBerry PlayBook already runs on QNX.

RIM said the PlayBook would get Android apps this summer, but that is looking less likely.

In order for QNX devices to run android apps, they need a separate "Android player." The Android Player will come pre-installed on QNX BlackBerry phones.

Google's Android Market has about 250,000 apps, which Bloomberg says is six times as many in RIM's BlackBerry App World.

Android is the most popular mobile OS on the planet right now, and adding support for its apps will likely add to BlackBerry's appeal.

RIM declined to comment.

QNX BlackBerry Phones to Run Android Apps?

According to a report from Bloomberg, RIM is going to be adding the ability to access Android applications to its upcoming line of QNX BlackBerry phones, the first of which is supposed to launch either later this year or in early 2012.

RIM’s tablet, the BlackBerry PlayBook, also runs on QNX and it too is supposed to be getting the ability to run Android applications as well but we still have not seen it roll out to owners.

Apparently, the Android player that the BlackBerry QNX devices need to run Android applications will come pre-installed on the QNX smartphones which will give the devices access to software on the Android Market.

This would be a huge boost to RIM’s upcoming shift to QNX as an operating system and would definitely lure in people who are disenchanted with RIM’s BlackBerry App World. After all, the Android Market is about six times the size of its counterpart and so giving BlackBerry QNX owners access to the apps on the Android Market would be a dream come true.

Assuming it all works as advertised.

As for the actual hardware, RIM is rumored to be rushing to try and get a QNX powered phone out in 2011 but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the BlackBerry Colt roll out in Q1 or 2012 as was previous reported.

Via: Business Insider

BlackBerry smartphones already running Android apps?!

Yes, we've all heard the rumors about the BlackBerry PlayBook possibly having the ability to run Android apps but have you heard that BlackBerry smartphones are already running them? If the data from ShopSavvy is in anyway accurate then they'd have you believe it's already happening. As noted on their blog they have been tracking devices checking out their services via Flurry, an analytics service and according what they found within that is that at least three BlackBerry devices have been running their Android app:

BlackBerry 8300 ran ShopSavvy on January 31, 2011
BlackBerry 8600 ran ShopSavvy on January 17 and 24, 2011
BlackBerry 8520 ran ShopSavvy on February 7, 2011

That's all fine and dandy but -- what is a BlackBerry 8600? Previously and during testing, the BlackBerry Curve 9300 was named the BlackBerry 8600 but that has long since been changed as the device came to market. So that really only leaves a few conclusions. Either RIM is working on making Android apps run on the BlackBerry Platform and they are using a really old pre-release BlackBerry for testing or -- someone is having some fun with messing around with their browser identification strings and making it look as though they are using a BlackBerry device when indeed, they are not.

Source: ShopSavvy, Thanks, everyone who sent this in!