RIM Attempts To Attract Android Developers With Free PlayBooks

by Jennifer Johnson — Friday, February 03, 2012, 03:49 PM EDT

RIM recognizes that apps are one of the ingredients to success if you're going to compete in the tablet market today. In an effort to try to woo Android developers, RIM is offering a free PlayBook tablet to developers who will repackage their app for the BlackBerry AppWorld.

The free tablet promotion was announced by RIM's VP of developer relations, Alec Saunders. According to a tweet from Saunders, Android Developers must submit their Android app to the BlackBerry AppWorld by February 13 in order to have a chance at the free PlayBook tablets. Saunders provided more information by linking to the company's BlackBerry Runtime for Android apps page.

Although RIM hasn't enjoyed the success with the PlayBook that the company initially hoped for, development is still continuing. After some delays, the latest BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 software is expected sometime this month. This software will finally bring dedicated PIM apps such as an email client and contact manager to the tablet. The PlayBook OS 2.0 update will also bring Android app compatibility.

Tags: BlackBerry, RIM, tablet, Playbook

Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer grew up around technology. From an early age, she was curious about all things related to computers. As a child, Jennifer remembers spending nights with her dad programming in BASIC and taking apart hard drives to see what was inside. In high school, she wrote her senior term paper on her experiences with building custom computers.

Jennifer graduated from the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. After college, she began writing full-time for various PC and technology magazines. Later, she transitioned to the Web. In these roles, Jennifer has covered a variety of topics including laptops, desktops, smartphones, cameras, tablets, and various consumer electronics devices. When she's not playing with or writing about the latest gadget, Jennifer loves to spend time with her family, capture memories with her camera, and scrapbook.

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