PlayBook To Get Android App Capability

By Joseph Palenchar On Apr 4 2011 - 4:01am

WATERLOO, ONTARIO — The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet will be able this summer to run BlackBerry smartphone apps and Android apps ported by their developers to run on the tablet’s OS, Research In Motion (RIM) announced.

Developers will be able to easily port their current apps to run on the BlackBerry Tablet OS because of a high degree of API compatibility, RIM said.

The development potentially enables the PlayBook to run more than 25,000 BlackBerry smartphone apps and more than 200,000 Android apps already on the market, the company said.

In the summer, RIM will launch two optional “app players” that will run Java-based BlackBerry smartphone apps and Android v2.3 apps. The app players will enable PlayBook downloading of the apps from the Black- Berry App World online store. More information and demonstrations of the app players will be available at the company’s BlackBerry World show in Orlando, Fla., on May 3-5.

Developers will repackage, code sign and submit their BlackBerry Java and Android apps to BlackBerry App World, RIM said. Once approved, the apps will be downloadable through the BlackBerry App World online store.

“The upcoming addition of Black- Berry Java and Android apps for the BlackBerry PlayBook on BlackBerry App World will provide our users with an even greater choice of apps and will also showcase the versatility of the platform.” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-CEO.