Research in Motion has called for Android developers to get their apps ready for the next iteration of its PlayBook tablet. According to the BlackBerry Developer Blog, today is the day they have recommended as the deadline for getting your apps turned in, at least if you want to have your apps in BlackBerry App World in time for the PlayBook 2.0 launch.
Research in Motion asked that all references to Android and the Android Market be removed from the application and application description before developers submitted their apps. While they are Android apps, RIM (understandably) wants to be sure that the process of downloading and installing onto a BlackBerry device is as smooth as if they were natively developed applications.
This is just the beginning. RIM intends to extend these apps to BlackBerry 10 devices as well.
As most people are aware, RIM has been struggling to maintain themselves and their brand in the market, particularly in the United States, but they were recently found to be the #1 operating system of choice in the United Kingdom by a long shot. The American mobile landscape is quite a bit different from the rest of the world. Despite the bad press that many American news sources are giving RIM, it’s plain to see RIM still holds a place in the hearts of millions of users and fans around the world.
With their moves to include Android apps in the BlackBerry App World, RIM is opening the doors to a changing business model, one that it hopes will not only rebuild its user base in the U.S., but strengthen its presence in the rest of the world. Here’s hoping they are successful. Get those apps in!
On a side note, we’re hoping the Android version of the Tru App will work on BlackBerry devices as well!