BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 Update With Android Support to Launch in October

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Say “tablet” and people will most often associate this with the iPad, which holds an 80% market share in the tablet market. Android devices follow, but with a big gap. Other players like the BlackBerry PlayBook are just a small minority. But with a promise for Android application support and reduced prices, will the BlackBerry PlayBook finally gain traction?

Amid difficulties in the tablet market, BlackBerry creator RIM has promised an update to its PlayBook tablet in October, in an effort to boost sales and expand its user base. The upcoming update highlights Android app support, among others. PlayBook 2.0 has actually been leaked before, with screenshots and descriptions. But in a recent media conference call following RIM’s earnings report, the company says the “big update” will be ready by October, and that users will have a lot to look forward to.

One of the big PlayBook 2.0 promises is Android support. The PlayBook platform was supposed to launch with an Android app player, although initial releases of the tablet did not include support for this. By running Android apps, the PlayBook can now please buyers who want access to the hundreds of thousands of applications designed for Android, while likewise enjoying the QNX platform.

Also, RIM promises an improved native email client, which was lacking in the first PlayBook release. The update will also include BlackBerry Balance, a BlackBerry Video Store and improved BlackBerry Bridge support. The Video Store is slated to offer 10,000 movies and TV shows, which are playable either on the PlayBook itself or through a television plugged in via HDMI.

While the update was rumored to be released sometime this fall, RIM confirms that the update will launch in time for its annual DevCon conference this October, in which new QNX smartphones will also be introduced.