As the tablet wars start to heat up there was an interesting teaser from RIM about the ability to run Android apps on their new PlayBook tablet. While the details are still a bit murky as to how this will work (either through emulation, “Just in Time” compilation or some other means) it does give the PlayBook a boost in terms of porting some of the more popular apps from the Android platform with relative ease.
The other edge of the sword here is that it allows developers to avoid writing native applications for the PlayBook which may be a lucrative and lazy way to get on to the new device. BlackBerry really should be giving some sort of incentive for writing native applications whilst using the ability to run Android apps as a means to quickly gain scale in a regulated and controlled manner in the short term.
Platforms thrive on a wide and varied library of apps (not to mention the profits that the platform owners reap as a result) as well as great devices to tap into those ecosystems. RIM risks diluting their platform as a “kinda sorta” Android platform with nothing much more to offer than standard BlackBerry services which may become a shrinking market in the long run.
At any rate. it will be interesting to see how this pans out but RIM certainly isn’t in a bad enough position (like Palm was when it created WebOS and the Palm Pre prior to selling out to HP) to be taking huge risks with its business.
Follow Us!