BlackBerry's next phone could run on Android

Reports suggest troubled smartphone firm might put a rival's OS on its devices for the first time

BlackBerry could release a smartphone equipped with Google's Android mobile operating system rather then its own BlackBerry 10 software in what would be a world first – and another sign of hard times for the company.

According to a Reuters source, the Canadian smartphone manufacturer has decided to equip some of its mobile devices with the Android OS because it acknowledges it is struggling to compete in a market it once dominated, but of which it now has only a one per cent share.

Indeed, even the enterprise, once a bastion of BlackBerry devices, appears to have abandoned the Canadian firm, as demonstrated by research unveiled at Computing's recent Enterprise Mobility and Application Management Summit 2015.

When asked 'Which would be the technology ecosystem(s) you would be more likely to choose for mobile devices for business use?' only 18 per cent of IT leaders said they would even consider BlackBerry.

Meanwhile, 56 per cent would consider developing for Apple, while 52 per cent would consider developing for Android, demonstrating the gulf between BlackBerry and its competitors.

The source who suggested that BlackBerry is about to install Android on some of their devices did not want to be named, but described the decision as part of BlackBerry's strategy to move its focus towards software and device management, rather than handsets themselves.

According to the source, BlackBerry will use Android on a slider device which combines a touchscreen with a keyboard, and the phone will be released later this year.

BlackBerry has had a turbulent few years and last month announced plans to axe staff in a bid to become more profitable. That is despite BlackBerry CEO John Chen previously claiming that the worst was behind the company.

A year ago, Computing reported that CIOs were losing faith in BlackBerry – choosing to drop it in favour devices such as Apple's iPhone – and it appears BlackBerry isn't even close to recovering trust from IT leaders.

But with Android on the rise in the enterprise, perhaps a deal between Google and BlackBerry would be good for both firms.

BlackBerry has denied any knowledge of a potential deal with Google.

"We don't comment on rumors and speculation, but we remain committed to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, which provides security and productivity benefits that are unmatched," the firm said in a statement.