Bloomberg is reporting that RIM intends to enable future models of its BlackBerry devices to run Android apps, and that such devices would be introduced in early 2012.
The report, citing “people familiar with the plan” says this is designed a way for RIM to boost sales and that it would apply to devices than run on RIM’s QNX software.
The Android Market consists of 250,000 apps, as well as the recently announced movie rentals. This should be huge for the Android ecosystem and Google’s operating system in general, particularly now that the iPhone is said to be coming to another major U.S. carrier in Sprint.
Google launched a preview of the new Google TV add-on for the Android SDK this week, enabling developers to create and optimize their Android apps for TVs, which could greatly help the popularity of Google TV (along with some additional efforts in getting the TV studios on board) and also help Android itself that much more – placing into more living rooms.
RIM devices are expected to go to the QNX platform early next year, and those running Blackberry 7 will not be able to upgrade to the new OS, which the Blackberry Playbook tablet runs.
This week, RIM announced three new BlackBerry Curve smartphones running BlackBerry 7.
