According to four people who are familiar with the situation, BlackBerry is considering equipping a forthcoming smartphone for the first time with Google’s Android software as a sign that its revamped line of devices has failed to gain widespread acceptance. The move would be an about-face for the Waterloo, Ontario-based company, which had shunned Android in a bet that its BlackBerry 10 line of phones would be able to claw back market share lost to Apple’s iPhone and a slew of devices powered by Android.
The sources, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, stated that BlackBerry’s decision to use Android is part of its plan to shift its focus to software and device management. BlackBerry, which once controlled the sales of smartphones, now has a market share of less than 1%. It is unclear whether the company’s BlackBerry 10 line of devices, which were first introduced to great fanfare in early 2013, would be discontinued if it switched to Android. After positive early reviews, the late-to-launch BlackBerry devices haven’t competed well with Android or Apple, mainly due to a lack of big name apps.
In an email, the company stated, “We don’t comment on rumors and speculation, but we remain committed to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, which provides unparalleled benefits in productivity and security.” A Google spokeswoman declined to comment.
BlackBerry Chief Executive John Chen is banking on the company’s new device management system, BES12, that allows corporate and government clients to not only manage BlackBerry devices on their internal networks, but also devices powered by Android, Apple’s iOS platform and Microsoft Corp’s Windows operating system.
Convincing large customers that its device management software is compatible with a wide range of platforms is one of the challenges it must overcome during that transformation. Two sources said that by launching an Android-based device of its own, BlackBerry would be sending a signal to skeptics that it is confident that the BES12 system can not only manage, but also secure smartphones and tablets powered by rival operating systems.
According to two sources, BlackBerry’s upcoming slider device, which is expected to be released this autumn, will probably use Android. The slider will have a physical keyboard and a touch screen that users can use if they prefer. BlackBerry briefly showed off the slider device on stage at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in March, but it has provided little detail on it since then.
BlackBerry hopes to find a place in the Android market dominated by touchscreens by producing a device with a large touchscreen and a physical keyboard. The device may attract those still using older BlackBerry keyboard handhelds but who want access to the larger app options Android offers.
COMPUTER CONUNDRUM According to two sources, if BlackBerry launches an Android device, it may include some of the patented features of its BlackBerry 10 operating system. 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.
The company has stated that it intends to provide additional in-house features on rival devices, such as BlackBerry Hub and the virtual keyboard’s predictive text capabilities, having recently made its popular BlackBerry Messaging app available to users of other operating systems. In March, Chen stated that the business was still committed to its own devices division. However, BlackBerry has further reduced the number of employees working in its hardware division since then. The company announced last month that it was making additional cuts on the device side without providing any numbers. At its peak in 2011, the company employed 17,500 people, but as of February, that number had decreased to 6,
