blackberry may put android on phone: sources - touch screen keyboard

TORONTO-BlackBerry is considering Google for its upcoming smartphone
According to four people familiar with the matter, this is the first time Android software has admitted that its improved device series has failed to win a public appeal.
The move will be about-
Facing Waterloo, Ont. -
The US-based company has been avoiding Android, betting that its BlackBerry 10 series will be able to regain the market share lost by Apple's iPhone and a range of Android-powered devices.
Sources asked not to be named because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, and BlackBerry said the use of Android was part of BlackBerry's strategy to turn to software and device management.
BlackBerry, which used to dominate smartphone sales, now has less than 1% of the market.
It is not clear whether the move to use Android means the end of the company's BlackBerry 10 series of devices, originally launched in early 2013.
After positive early evaluation, laterto-
The launch of the BlackBerry device is not very competitive with Android or Apple, mainly due to the lack of big-name apps.
The company said in an email: "We don't comment on rumors and speculation, but we are still working on the BlackBerry 10 operating system, which offers unparalleled security and productivity advantagesmail.
A Google spokesman declined to comment.
BlackBerry Chief Executive John Chen has high hopes for the company's new device management system BES12, which allows companies and government customers to manage not only BlackBerry devices on their internal networks, but also, apple's iOS platform and Microsoft's Windows operating system also support Android devices.
One of the obstacles it faces in this shift is convincing big customers that their device management software can work across many different platforms.
Two sources say that by launching an Android-
BlackBerry will send a signal to skeptics that the BES12 system can not only be managed, but also protect smartphones and tablets powered by rival operating systems.
Two sources said BlackBerry may use Android on slider devices that will be released this fall.
The slider combines the touch screen with the physical keyboard and can use the physical keyboard if the user wishes.
BlackBerry briefly presented the slider device at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but since then it has provided little detail.
By making an Android device with a large touch screen and a physical keyboard, BlackBerry wants to take a place in the touch screen --
Dominate the Android Market.
The device may appeal to those who still use the old BlackBerry keyboard handheld device, but they want to get a bigger app option offered by Android.
It is reported that if the BlackBerry plans to launch an Android device, it may add some patented features to the BlackBerry 10 operating system.
At, BlackBerry announced plans to provide its patented security, productivity, and communication tools to any mobile device running iOS, Android, or Windows.
The company recently opened its popular BlackBerry messaging app to people using rival operating systems and said it plans to offer more in-house services
BlackBerry Hub and its virtual keyboard's predictive text feature are house features on rival devices.
Chen said in March that the company is still committed to its own equipment business.
Since then, however, the number of employees in the BlackBerry hardware department has decreased further.
The company hired 2011 people during the peak of 17,500 and fell to 6,225 in February. Last month, it said it was further cutting spending on equipment, but did not provide any figures.