Last month at CES, Research in Motion announced to launch the next major iteration of the Blackberry PlayBook OS, version 2.0. The anticipated update will allow PlayBook users to use Android apps that have been compiled for RIM’s platform, but getting developers on board is still a big issues for the company. Now, RIM has endeavored to get attention of the Android developers by offering free Blackberry PlayBook Tablet. The company is offering a free 16 GB PlayBook Tablet to those Android developers who repackage their apps for PlayBook platform. RIM’s VP of developer—Alec Saunders—mentioned the program in a twitter message on Thursday.
The RIM’s Developers’ blog site stated, “Further details about the promotion will be posted on our developer site as soon as possible, but the plan is to provide one free 16GB BlackBerry PlayBook to every registered BlackBerry App World vendor who converts their Android app for use on the BlackBerry PlayBook.”
The offer is not going to give much time for Android developers; they will have to optimize their Android apps for the PlayBook and then, they will have to submit in the Blackberry World Store by February 13 in order to get a free 16 GB PlayBook Tablet.
RIM has an app playing engine that allows programs designed for Android to run on its QNX-based Playbook. The video demonstrates how Android Apps can be repackaged for PlayBook platform:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62tkj53G7kU
The company has stated that the Android apps should be ported and submitted prior to the deadlines and also applications need to meet the BalckBerry App World vendor guidelines to be eligible for the offer .
In Q4 last year, RIM had decided to reduce the price of its Playbook in order to contend their strong rivals like Apple’s iPad and Amazon’s kindle Fire. However, after price-cut the company had managed to do fair sale of its PlayBook Tablets last year. The company had also announced to offer “buy-two- get-one free deal” on their Tablets through the network of their authorized reseller in the last couple of months of 2011. In addition to these, RIM was offering a free 16 GB Blackberry Playbook Tablet for the company for installing BES v5.0 until the 31st of December 2011. Definitely, it’s the company’s strategy to woo the Android developers in this time to get developers on its board.
Desperate measures by a dying company. It is too late for it. Do not waste time on RIMM and BB or Playbook. This stuff belongs in the museum.