BlackBerry reportedly considers Android with new phone

When things get difficult in the mobile industry, it is time to retreat and reactivate. Companies can rebrand, overhaul lineups, and undergo a myriad of other strategies to reinvent themselves. For BlackBerry, that may happen for the second time in just a few years. The company previously known as Research In Motion (RIM) has seen BlackBerry 10, its dedicated mobile operating system, flop with consumers as it looks and feels slower than the competition. It is no surprise that the company’s hardware has also experienced lackluster sales, leaving BlackBerry’s hold on the market at less than one percent.

The once dominant team in Canada could be looking outside of Waterloo for help.

Reuters reports that BlackBerry is considering the release of a device later this year that is powered by Android. The hardware apparently debuted at MWC 2015 in the form of a sliding dual-curved display phone. So BlackBerry would continue to produce a phone with a physical keyboard, which the company is famous for, while including software that is widely acclaimed and rich with developer support. That phone is expected to be released in August.

The transition would be part of a shift for BlackBerry to focus on software and device management. Its BlackBerry Enterprise Service 12 (BES12) works across iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and a few other platforms.

BlackBerry had the following to say about the report:

“We don’t comment on rumors and speculation, but we remain committed to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, which provides security and productivity benefits that are unmatched.”

The rumored offer from Microsoft to purchase BlackBerry seems to be on hold or never existed at all. Samsung, too, was said to have put an offer on the table; however, that ended up being a hoax and a partnership between the two was reinforced. BlackBerry should act quickly with the execution of plans because cutting jobs is not a sign of a prosperous future.

Source: Reuters

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