Google Play Store coming to BB10, according to leaked screenshots

BlackBerry 10.2.1 is being tested internally at the Canadian phone company and there’s some interesting news coming out of its offices. Screenshots and images leaked recently have shown the Google Play Store allegedly running on a BlackBerry handset, fuelling rumours that an update to the BlackBerry OS will allow users to install applications straight from the Android store.

Google Play on BB 10.2.1?

The images first emerged on the CrackBerry forum, where the original poster said that the pictures were found online. The series of images shows the Google Play Store working on a BlackBerry Z10. One image also shows the multi-tasking screen showing both the Play Store as well as the BlackBerry World apps switched on simultaneously.

While the images look legit to the untrained eye, Photoshop sleuths would be the best people to say if the image has been tampered with or not. It would be too early to believe something like a BlackBerry device running Android applications, but it seems like an ideal dream. It would most importantly, help users who’re currently side-loading Android applications on their BlackBerry devices. For those not in the know, side-loading is a slightly tedious process that involves using the Android Runtime to have devices run Android apps.

More from News & Analysis

What is the US HIRE Bill and why is India’s $250-billion IT sector worried? Is the internet dead? What's this theory that OpenAI's Sam Altman says might be true?

BlackBerry World and Google Play

The lack of applications has been BlackBerry’s Achilles’ Heel and this partnership could well address that part of the ecosystem. Since BlackBerry 10.2.1 will be affecting the PlayBook too, it seems like a lucrative offer for the Canadian handset maker. Of course, since there is no way of confirming the authenticity of these images, we suggest you take it with a pinch of salt till the next bunch of leaks appear on the scene.