Sunday, September 9, 2012

HTC Considering Licensing BlackBerry 10


While RIM is working hard to execute a major transition to a new QNX-based platform for its mobile devices, rumors  of potential BlackBerry 10 licensing deals with other manufacturers have sprung up.  When asked about a deal with RIM, director of product management for EMEA at HTC, Graham Wheeler, stated:
“I don’t have any knowledge but that is not to say we are not looking at it. But from my point of view we are not saying we are closed to a new operating system. We will review each one to make sure it’s the best for our customers.”
While this is far from a concrete statement and is most likely just a diplomatic answer, the chance that HTC licenses BlackBerry 10 isn't zero.  While most manufacturers faced with the question would likely reiterate their commitment to the Android platform, HTC has clearly expressed their openness to other platforms if they are in the company’s and their customers’ best interests.  If HTC does indeed license BlackBerry 10, the chance of success for the new platform should increase.
HTC and RIM are both known for their build quality, however HTC uses the free Android operating system provided by Google.  HTC has also released Windows 7-powered devices in an effort to reduce their dependency on Android amid decreasing sales.
Would you use an HTC BlackBerry 10 smartphone?  What if it relied on RIM leaving the hardware game?  What if it was the only way for the platform to survive?  Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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