A Bloomberg report indicates that RIM’s upcoming QNX-powered BlackBerry smartphones will be able to run Google Android applications. This report is the first indication that RIM will extend the same functionality it has already promised for its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.
Google’s Android Market is about six times larger than that of RIM’s App World. RIM is hoping that having access to it will appeal to customers who have “grown weary of the aging BlackBerry portfolio and its narrower selection of apps.
RIM has yet to launch Android Player for the PlayBook. It’s not clear if it will be ready for the QNX smartphones (including the rumoured BlackBerry Colt) expected in early 2012.