BlackBerry might be contemplating using Android to power its upcoming device lineup, according to Reuters.
The device demoed by the Waterloo company at Mobile World Congress could be the one running Android operating system by August.
According to the unnamed sources, company’s move is to focus on the software and device management rather than owning a full-fledged operating system.
BlackBerry once contributed the major share in smartphone industry which is turned down to less than 1% because of Android and iOS.
Company’s CEO John Chen is putting its bets on a device management system called BES12, adds Reuters. BES12 is supposed to give the companies the ability to manage Android and iOS device along with BlackBerry on their internal networks.
It is not yet clear if BlackBerry 10 line of devices end is near. But, moving to Android will definitely contribute to device sales, hopes BlackBerry. The secure and enterprise-enhanced platform couldn’t dwell because of the lack of popular apps that the competing platforms offered.
However, “We don’t comment on rumours and speculation, but we remain committed to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, which provides security and productivity benefits that are unmatched,” the company said in an email statement to Reuters.
The Android-powered slider phone – demoed at MWC – boasts a large screen and a physical keyboard. Giving the best of both worlds, users preferring the old-school BlackBerry’s physical keyboard can experience the same on Android.
If this is happening we can hope see BlackBerry’s incrementing contribution in the smartphone market soon.
