By Richard Goodwin knowyourmobile.com
BlackBerry to adopt Android on upcoming 2015 releases? HELL YES!
BlackBerry 10 is an immense platform, almost without equal. But sources are now claiming BlackBerry could augment it with Google’s Android OS in a bid to make its future devices more attractive to consumers.
“The sources,” reports Reuters, “who asked not to be named as they have not been authorised to discuss the matter publicly, said the move to use Android is part of BlackBerry’s strategy to pivot to focus on software and device management. BlackBerry, which once dominated smartphone sales, now has a market share of less than 1 percent.”
The inclusion of Android aboard BlackBerry devices and how it would work is largely unclear at the moment, information is patchy. What could happen is something similar to how Cyanogen operates; BlackBerry could take Google’s source code, completely repackage it, add in all its security features and ship it aboard its devices, complete with Google services like Google Play.
Two sources said that if BlackBerry moves forward on a plan to launch an Android device, it could come with some of the patented features in its BlackBerry 10 operating system. BlackBerry and Google declined to comment on the speculation, however, the sources claims BlackBerry’s upcoming slider handset could be the first Android-powered BlackBerry out the blocks.
BlackBerry will probably use Android on an upcoming slider device that is likely to be released this autumn, two sources said. The slider will combine a touch screen with a physical keyboard that users can use if they prefer.