New smartphone would mark U-turn in company strategy as it struggles to stymie falling sales and moves to place software on iPhones and other Androids.
The next BlackBerry smartphone could run Android and have a sliding physical keyboard, according to reports.
BlackBerry briefly showed off a slider device on stage at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in March, but has provided little detail on it since.
The move would make BlackBerry the latest Android device manufacturer, having brought Android apps through the Amazon app store to its BlackBerry 10 smartphones in an attempt to help tempt users with more apps.
Four sources talking to Reuters said the move to use Android is part of BlackBerry’s strategy to focus on software and device management, rather than handset sales after its market SHARE declined to less than 1%.
Whether a move to Android, an about-face for the Waterloo, Ontario-based company, would spell the end of BlackBerry 10 devices is unclear. Launched in 2013, BlackBerry 10 devices have struggled to compete with Android smartphones from Samsung, Motorola or LG, or Apple’s iPhones, mainly due to a lack of big name apps.
“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,” said BlackBerry in a statement.
Software and services, not phones
BlackBerry chief executive John Chen has pinned the company’s hopes on a new device management system called BES12, which allows corporate and government clients to manage BlackBerry devices as well as devices powered by Android, iOS and Windows operating system.
One of the hurdles it faces in that transformation is convincing big customers that its device management software works across many different platforms.
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By launching an Android-based device of its own, BlackBerry would be sending a signal to sceptics that it is confident that the BES12 system can not only manage, but also secure smartphones and tablets powered by rival operating systems.
In March, BlackBerry announced that it planned to deliver its patented security, productivity and communication tools to any mobile device running iOS, Android or Windows.
After launching its then popular BlackBerry Messaging app on Android and iPhone, BlackBerry said it plans to offer more in-house features on rival devices, including BlackBerry Hub and the predictive text capabilities of its virtual keyboard.
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Post By: Ramiz Ali Khan.
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