Consumers looking to pick up a tablet over the course of the next year or so are likely to ask themselves one question: how many apps can it run?

Despite the willingness of the press to label each and every newcomer as a potential 'iPad killer', the one area where Apple is likely to rule the roost for some time to come is the sheer number of apps it supports.

Suggestions that RIM might be looking to piggyback Android and run apps designed for Google's OS on its forthcoming BlackBerry PlayBook, therefore, aren't without considerable weight.

Destination Dalvik

TechRadar reports a RIM rep was overheard claiming the tablet will support Android apps during a demo at Mobile World Congress.

The suggestion is, the OS will employ Android's virtual machine Dalvik to enable titles designed for Android to run hassle free.

"We will also support Android apps when we release the Dalvik engine on top of QNX,” the rep reportedly stated.

Far from alien

Though there's been no official confirmation from RIM itself, it wouldn't be the first company looking to exploit Dalvik on Android.

Earlier in February, software specialist Myriad announced it was working on a platform of its own – Alien Dalvik – to allow Android apps to run on non-Android platforms without any drop of performance.



[source: TechRadar]