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With market shares drastically dropping, BlackBerry might take a plunge in the Android market, equipping a slider touchscreen/keyboard with Android OS.
For the first time, BlackBerry unnamed sources declared that the company is considering to have a new smartphone release that will be operated by Google’s Android operating system.
With a peak in sales and employment reached in 2011, BlackBerry is now facing a dwindling interest in the smartphone market. Users are far more attracted to either Android powered touchscreen smartphones or Apple’s iOS powered smart devices.
It is a surprising piece of news as with the occasion of the BlackBerry 10 smartphone line, the Ontario-based company was well about its confidence that it would shine as bright as Android smartphones ever did. Reality proved different. To this extent the company is looking to reshift emphasize on both software and efficient device management according to the anonymous sources.
Currently, BlackBerry’s market share is less than 1 percent. BlackBerry 10 smartphones lagged well behind competitors Apple and Google’s Android. No big app names were to be found and their functionality wasn’t sufficient for customers to look into BlackBerry’s revamped line.
While the news of a new Android powered BlackBerry phone is leaked and we expect to see it set in motion quite soon, company officials declared that:
“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”.
Currently, BlackBerry is boasting its new management system, BES12, that offers big customers such as corporate or governmental to manage all BlackBerry devices across platforms.
It is possible that by considering to launch a BlackBerry device based on Android, the company wishes to send a message about the efficiency and utility of in-house BES12.
The BlackBerry smartphone that will be powered by Android is expected in autumn at the earliest. It will bring about a touchscreen device equipped with a physical keyboard specific to BlackBerry smartphones.
In March, during the Mobile World Congress, such a device was being showcased by BlackBerry, but no news were heralded since then. An Android powered smartphone featuring a keyboard would definitely be something new at the moment where Android phones are mainly touchscreen.
For nostalgic users or perhaps those that find it functional, the new BlackBerry device would be, at least from this perspective, a treat.
More news are expected to follow and statements to be released both from BlackBerry official sources, as well as Google representatives.
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