Research in Motion's first tablet device, the BlackBerry PlayBook, will include software that allows the device to run apps designed for Google's Android operating system, according to Bloomberg.
Combining Android's 130,000-plus apps with the security and business-focused RIM could make the PlayBook an extremely compelling tablet option.
One of the challenges any tablet maker faces as it brings a device to market is where to find apps. Tablets running iOS or Android have hundreds of thousands of apps designed for them that add a lot of extra functionality to the device. Companies without such an ecosystem have to make bold moves, and Research in Motion appears willing to do that.
The software that powers the PlayBook, Bloomberg said, called QNX, is similar enough to Android that adapting it to run Android apps might not be such a stretch. RIM had also reportedly been considering using Google's Dalvik, a Java software that is used to run Android apps, but decided against it. Google and Oracle are in the midst of a patent dispute over the Dalvik software, so RIM likely decided to avoid getting involved in the legal matters.
One of the PlayBook's points of differentiation will be the same as for all BlackBerry phones—the phones are secure, designed for enterprise use, and are renowned for their messaging capabilities. Bringing all of those features to a tablet makes sense, but a vibrant third-party developer community for those features makes it harder for consumers to choose the PlayBook. If the device can run all the apps Android owners enjoy—and run them well, which might be RIM's biggest challenge—potential buyers don't have to sacrifice, but can have both.
The PlayBook's security-consciousness and its app-friendliness may be at odds, however, especially when it comes to Android apps. Android apps are famously insecure, and there are frequent stories of apps that steal or mine data, or compromise users' information. How successfully RIM navigates those waters will be critical to the success of the potential PlayBook/Android combination.