RIM PlayBook will be able to run Android apps

What seemed a wild rumor couple of months back just got real. RIM has announced that its PlayBook tablet due on April 19 will have the ability to run Android apps as well as BlackBerry Java apps. Since PlayBook is based on a different OS than Blackberry phones, RIM will launch two optional app players, which is nothing but an application run-time environment for BlackBerry Java apps and Android 2.3 apps.

Developers wanting their apps on the PlayBook will have to repackage, code sign and submit the app to BlackBerry App World for approval, after which users will be able to download from the app store.

Users need not worry about the security of the tablet as both the app players will be secured in a sandbox which will make breaching of data stored on the BlackBerry Tablet OS impossible.

Additionally, RIM has confirmed to release a native SDK for the PlayBook that will support C/C++ application development.

The app players will be showcased at BlackBerry World in May and will be released on the BlackBerry App World later this summer.

Press Release

• BlackBerry PlayBook now available in US and Canada
• RIM starts BlackBerry PlayBook pre-order, reaching US and Canada on April 19
• BlackBerry PlayBook will run Android apps?
• RIM announces 4G LTE equipped BlackBerry PlayBook for Canada