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BlackBerry PlayBook will support Android apps, RIM rep proclaims [video]

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 7:04PM EST
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BGR exclusively reported in January that Research in Motion was hard at work trying to add support for Android applications to the BlackBerry PlayBook and its QNX-based OS. The move would be a major one, as access to the second-largest mobile development ecosystem would give RIM’s new platform a huge jump in the all-important app game. Since our initial exclusive report, we’ve seen strikingly similar claims emerge as well as purported news of an Android app running on multiple BlackBerry smartphones. Now, a RIM representative has apparently been caught on video saying “we will also support Android apps when we release the Dalvik engine on top of QNX,” while showing off a PlayBook. Oops. The newly uncovered video was filmed at Mobile World Congress earlier this month and while we can’t quite call it an official confirmation from RIM, it certainly seems to substantiate our report. Though the RIM representative mentioned Dalvik, conflicting reports have stated that RIM won’t end up using the Dalvik engine, but rather a different option. The PlayBook video can be found after the jump, with the quote in question coming shortly after the 0:14 mark.

[Via CrackBerry.com]

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Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.