RIM (NASDAQ: RIMM) is working on software that will allow its upcoming PlayBook tablet to run applications designed for Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) Android operating system. The news first came from Bloomberg Businessweek, which ran a report in which "three people familiar with the matter" were said to have offered confirmation. If true, this is another example of how RIM is willing to step out of the box and do whatever it takes to produce a winner. Already, the PlayBook tablet will be using an operating system not developed from scratch at RIM; but which the company gained after acquiring QNX.

For now, RIM is developing the software to run Android apps internally and may have it ready in the second half, noted two of the same sources. The logic behind getting Android apps to work with the PlayBook is simple. The Inquirer put it best when it wrote: "Why create your own ecosystem when you can plug into one of the most successful ones going?" At the moment, the Android Market has over 130,000 apps, second only to Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) own App Store. In comparison, RIM's own App World lags behind with about 20,000 apps at the moment.

Forrester Research analyst Sarah Rotman Epps outlined RIM's predicament among developers, "Right now, the PlayBook ranks low on developers' list of priorities; having the PlayBook be Android-compatible makes it much more appealing for developers." With Nokia ditching Symbian and MeeGo in favor of Windows Phone 7, this seemed like a wise move that should put RIM's new OS in a stronger position further down the road. As usual, RIM will not confirm or deny the news.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at Bloomberg
- check out this article at The Inquirer
- check out this article at eWeek
- check out this article at CNET News

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