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BlackBerry says Google Play not coming to BB 10 devices

BlackBerry says Google Play not coming to BB 10 devices

By Ketan Pratap | Updated: 13 November 2013 11:51 IST

BlackBerry has finally stepped in to stop the rumour mill that claimed BlackBerry 10 devices will soon be able to install Android apps directly from Google Play store.

The Canadian manufacturer has said that 'no planned support' for Google Play store on its devices is in development. Further, BlackBerry confirmed that the BlackBerry World has been major source of apps for the platform.

BlackBerry responded to CrackBerry, saying the report was false and that, "There is no planned support for Google Play on BlackBerry. BlackBerry World remains the primary source for trusted and curated BlackBerry applications and we continue to support open standards and open source tools so BlackBerry developers can continue to create great apps on any of the development platforms we support."

Earlier, a report painted a scenario where BlackBerry was revealed to be in talks with Google to bring the Play Store to BlackBerry 10 devices. Few screenshots of the Play Store running on a BlackBerry Z10 also surfaced on the Internet, however later it was revealed that the images were fake.

With BlackBerry 10.2, BlackBerry updated the BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps and Plug-in to be able to run Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean apps, enabling almost all modern Android apps to work on BlackBerry 10.

Blackberry's new devices, the BlackBerry Z10, Q10, Q5 and Z30 based on the BlackBerry 10 OS have not been embraced by users at the level that it expected, resulting in the company suffering financial losses and taking an inventory write down due to unsold devices. However, access to the Play Store could have infused a new lease of life into the platform.

Earlier this week, a report suggested that Microsoft Corp, Apple Inc and Lenovo Group Ltd, were interested in acquiring parts of BlackBerry. However, the BlackBerry's board rejected proposals from these for various BlackBerry assets on grounds that a break-up did not serve the interest of all stakeholders.

BlackBerry has said that it's moving its focus from devices to services and software targeted at the government and enterprise segments. However, it will continue to operate its handset business.

BlackBerry's interim CEO, John Chen confirmed the news and said that the company has no plans to shut down the loss-making handset business.

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Further reading: Android, BlackBerry, BlackBerry 10, Google, Google Play Store

Ketan Pratap

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Ketan Pratap is the editor at Gadgets 360 - with over 12 years of experience covering the technology domain. With a breadth and depth of knowledge in the field, he's done extensive work across news, features, reviews, and opinion pieces. But what's truly inspiring about Ketan is how he spends his free time. He's often found gazing at snow-capped mountains from over 20,000 feet while sitting on the hood of his car, taking in the breathtaking beauty of nature. His passion for the great ...More