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A new leak shows the Google Play Store working on the BlackBerry Z10 device, this could be a new feature coming on the 10.2.1 update, scheduled in the coming weeks. If this happens to be true it is a rather insignificant 0.0.1 update, bringing one of the biggest features to BB OS.
To get Google’s support, the third party has to adhere to some rules, including the adoption of almost every Google mobile service on their smartphone. All partners in the Open Handset Alliance have to abide by these rules to get the Google Play store to work on their mobile devices.
This means the next update to BB OS could bring a slew of Google services in order to use the Google Play store. On top of all the rest of BlackBerry’s services, we will see a bump in the amount of space needed for the OS and pre-installed applications.
Perhaps this is the move BlackBerry planned and why the change in management and $1 billion in funding was necessary. Essentially BlackBerry could make their own skin for Android, tailored to people who love to check email and use the phone as a work device.
This is a ripe market for expansion and the only major feature holding BlackBerry down is the lack of apps on BB OS. Compared to the Google Play store or iOS Apps Store, BlackBerry has a minimal amount of core apps and new apps that draw in users.
It is quite amazing that the two titans of the industry, BlackBerry and Nokia, both failed to gain ground because they did not embrace Android and instead went their separate ways, Nokia to Windows Phone and BlackBerry stayed with their own OS.
