BlackBerry recently revealed that they had hit 100,000 applications on their BlackBerry 10 app store, which led to speculation that a lot of these 100,000 apps were actually ported from Android.
BlackBerry has now revealed some figures on just exactly how many of their 100,000 apps have been ported from Android, one in five apps on BlackBerry 10 are Android ports.
“We give them a very nice on-ramp to get onto the platform,” Mallick said in an interview Tuesday. “Our users deserve to have great content. If that is the fastest way we can get some of that content, that’s great.”
This means that out of the 100,000 apps, 20,000 have been ported over from Android, the other 80,000 are apps which have been specifically designed for the BlackBerry 10 platform.
The Importance of App Availability
The availability of a wide range of applications is crucial for the success of any mobile platform. Users expect to have access to a variety of apps that cater to their needs, whether it’s for productivity, entertainment, or social networking. BlackBerry’s milestone of reaching 100,000 apps is significant because it demonstrates the platform’s growing ecosystem. However, the fact that 20% of these apps are Android ports raises questions about the originality and uniqueness of the BlackBerry 10 app store.
Porting apps from Android to BlackBerry 10 is a strategic move to quickly populate the app store and provide users with familiar applications. This approach helps in attracting users who might be hesitant to switch platforms due to the fear of losing access to their favorite apps. However, it also highlights the challenges BlackBerry faces in encouraging developers to create native apps specifically for their platform.
Challenges and Opportunities for BlackBerry
While the inclusion of Android ports helps in boosting the number of available apps, it also presents certain challenges. One of the main challenges is ensuring that these ported apps perform well on the BlackBerry 10 platform. Differences in operating systems can lead to compatibility issues, which might affect the user experience. BlackBerry needs to ensure that these apps are optimized for their platform to provide a seamless experience for users.
On the other hand, the presence of Android ports also presents opportunities for BlackBerry. It allows the company to showcase the versatility of their platform and its ability to support a wide range of applications. This can be a selling point for potential users who are looking for a platform that offers both unique BlackBerry apps and popular Android apps.
Moreover, BlackBerry’s strategy of providing an “on-ramp” for Android developers can encourage more developers to consider creating apps for BlackBerry 10. By making it easier for developers to port their apps, BlackBerry can gradually build a more robust and diverse app ecosystem. This can lead to the development of more native apps in the long run, enhancing the overall quality and uniqueness of the BlackBerry 10 app store.
In conclusion, while the revelation that 20% of BlackBerry 10 apps are Android ports might raise some eyebrows, it is a strategic move that has both its challenges and opportunities. BlackBerry’s focus on providing great content for its users, whether through native apps or Android ports, is a step in the right direction. As the platform continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how BlackBerry balances the need for a diverse app ecosystem with the goal of encouraging more native app development.
Source All Things D
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