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RIM was drumming up support for PlayBook's Android player at Droidcon

Boosting BlackBerry App World inventory

RIM was drumming up support for PlayBook's Android player at Droidcon
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Droidcon is described as being the 'UK's largest Android-only developer conference', so the appearance of RIM, touting its QNX-powered PlayBook tablet, was somewhat of a surprise.

And it wasn’t merely a symbolic presence, either.

The company not only had a stand in the main atrium displaying the tablet, but team leader for EMEA developer relations, Sanyu Kiruluta, was giving a talk in the Business hall as to how Android developers can start producing apps for BlackBerry App World.

Sleeping with the enemy

Of course, the reason for this activity is that the QNX OS, used by PlayBook and future BlackBerry devices, will support Android apps thanks to an QNX-Android wrapper. 

It won't be a simple case of loading an existing Android v2.3 app onto your PlayBook, however.

Certain Android APIs aren't compatible with PlayBook, and while the apps may have been originally distributed on Google’s Android Market, any apps that include the wrapper will have to be submitted and distributed through RIM's BlackBerry App World store. 

Will Wilson
Will Wilson

Will's obsession with gaming started off with sketching Laser Squad levels on pads of paper, but recently grew into violently shouting "Tango Down!" at random strangers on the street. He now directs that positive energy into his writing (due in no small part to a binding court order).