Tag: blackberry

BlackBerry smartphones could roll out with Android OS, this year

| July 14, 2015

The second half of 2015 may see a new device from the handset maker, based on Google’s mobile operating system.

The rumors are flying and reports are coming from every direction, suggesting that BlackBerry smartphones will soon have Android operating systems, despite the fact that at the time that this article was written, the company and its CEO have, so far, not confirmed any of the speculations.

The reports have now indicated that multiple smartphone models will be rolled out this year, using Android.

Though officially unconfirmed, virtually every sign is now indicating that BlackBerry smartphones will soon be produced based on the Android operating system. The company has even gone to the extent of purchasing two domain names “AndroidSecured.com” and “AndroidSecured.net”, which have to do with a statement that CEO John Chen had previously made on the subject. When asked if his company would be making mobile devices based on Android, his reply was that it would happen only if Google’s mobile operating system could be made to be far more secure.

BlackBerry smartphones operating on Android would still maintain some of the company’s own software functions.

Blackberry Smartphones & AndroidEven though it would have a different operating system, there would still be signs of the BlackBerry OS in terms of the software functions as well as the applications services, for example: BBM, BES12, and BlackBerry Blend. This according to a number of sources that have been reported by the media, but who have remained unnamed. They are, supposedly, from Foxconn, the manufacturer of the devices.

In order to boost the hardware’s competitive edge, BlackBerry has also broadened its hardware partnerships in order to include Wistron and Compal Electronics, in addition to the partner that it already has, Foxconn.

Many analysts in the industry feel that if Blackberry smartphones are rolled out with Android, it is very unlikely that the company will face losses as a result. The company does still maintain a strong brand image in a range of different markets. Moreover, its reputation in terms of security – particularly from its enterprise side – is essentially unparalleled. However, it is more than evident that changes need to be made in order to boost the value of the hardware business unit at BlackBerry, and to many, it feels as though this could be the move that would make that difference.

Android smartphone reportedly in the works between BlackBerry and Samsung

| June 19, 2015

This device would bring the Google operating system together with the secure and powerful BB services.

BlackBerry’s ongoing struggles have not shown any sign of coming to an end over the last while, despite a number of strategic improvements that the company has made, and it has recently been rumored that the next step along the way will be an Android smartphone.

Now, further rumors are indicating that BlackBerry will be partnering up with Samsung for this new mobile device.

After stumbling a number of times in its predictions as to what would turn the company around, it now looks like it is going to make a move toward an Android smartphone that could potentially differentiate itself in a whole new way. There is a great deal of potential in this type of idea. If it partners with Samsung, it has the chance to make a sleek, attractive, cutting edge device and if it uses Android, it could combine the platform with its own security and software strengths.

The result could potentially be an Android smartphone with a physical keyboard, high security, and awesome software.

BlackBerry & Samsung working togetherOf course, none of these mobile technology rumors have actually been confirmed, but the reports have been made by certain sources that have been highly accurate about their predictions, in the past. According to Eldar Murtazin, the Russian tech blogger, the BlackBerry Venice or BlackBerry Slider, which had been unannounced but that were spotted at the MWC featuring a dual-edge display, could potentially be released based on the Android operating system.

A tweet from the blogger indicated that if BlackBerry and Samsung are working together, the outcome could be an Android Lollipop mobile phone with BB services. The idea is that the trusted enterprise services that are the foundation strength of BlackBerry could potentially be carried over to a mobile device that is launched based on Android.

The reports of the two companies working together on an Android smartphone were released only a day after others that had indicated that BlackBerry was considering making a mobile device based on that operating system, in the first place.