BlackBerry is considering militarisation associate degree forthcoming smartphone with Google android os .Mechanical man computer code for the primary time, associate degree acknowledgement that its revamped line of devices has didn't win mass attractiveness, in keeping with four sources conversant in the matter.
The move would be associate degree about-face for the Waterloo, Ontario-based company, that had shunned mechanical man in a very bet that its BlackBerry ten line of phones would be able to claw back market share lost to Apple's (AAPL.O) iPhone and a slew of devices battery-powered by mechanical man.
The sources, United Nations agency asked to not be named as they need not been approved to debate the matter in public, aforesaid the move to use mechanical man is an element of BlackBerry's strategy to pivot to specialise in computer code and device management. BlackBerry, that once dominated smartphone sales, currently contains a market share of but one %.
It is not clear whether or not a move to use mechanical man would spell the tip of the company's BlackBerry ten line of devices that were at the start launched to a lot of fanfare in early 2013. once positive early reviews, the late-to-launch BlackBerry devices haven't competed well with mechanical man or Apple, in the main attributable to an absence of huge name apps.
"We do not discuss rumors and speculation, however we have a tendency to stay committed to the BlackBerry ten software system, that provides security and productivity edges that square measure unmatched," aforesaid the corporate in associate degree email.
A Google representative declined to comment.
BlackBerry Chief govt John bird genus is banking on the company's new device management system, BES12, that enables company and government purchasers to not solely manage BlackBerry devices on their internal networks, however additionally devices battery-powered by mechanical man, Apple's iOS platform and Microsoft Corp's Windows software system.
One of the hurdles it faces in this transformation is convincing huge customers that its device management computer code works across many alternative platforms.
Two sources aforesaid that by launching associate degree Android-based device of its own, BlackBerry would be causation a symptom to skeptics that it's assured that the BES12 system cannot solely manage, however additionally secure smartphones and tablets battery-powered by rival in operation systems.
BlackBerry can in all probability} use mechanical man on associate degree forthcoming slider device that's likely to be free this season, 2 sources aforesaid. The slider can mix slightly screen with a physical keyboard that users will use if they like.
BlackBerry in brief showed off the slider device on stage at Mobile World Congress in city in March, however it's provided very little detail thereon since then.
By creating associate degree mechanical man device that boasts an oversized touchscreen and a physical keyboard, BlackBerry hopes to snag a distinct segment within the touchscreen-dominated mechanical man market. The device might attract those still exploitation older BlackBerry keyboard handhelds however United Nations agency wish access to the larger app choices mechanical man offers.
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Two sources aforesaid that if BlackBerry moves forward on an idea to launch associate degree mechanical man device, it might go with a number of the proprietary options in its BlackBerry ten software system.
In March, BlackBerry proclaimed that it planned to deliver its proprietary security, productivity and communication tools to any mobile device running iOS, mechanical man or Windows.
The company, that a moment past opened its in style BlackBerry electronic communication app to those exploitation rival in operation systems, has aforesaid it plans to supply a lot of in-house options on rival devices, as well as BlackBerry Hub and also the prophetic text capabilities of its virtual keyboard.
Chen in March aforesaid the corporate was still committed to its own devices business.
Since that point but, BlackBerry has cut head count in its hardware unit even more. the corporate, that at a 2011 peak utilized 17,500 folks and in Gregorian calendar month was all the way down to 7,225, aforesaid last month that it had been creating more cuts on the device aspect, while not providing any numbers.
