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The upcoming BlackBerry Android-powered handset

A new report from Reuters has it that struggling Canadian smartphone maker, BlackBerry Limited, might be planning on launching a new BB handset running Android operating system.The upcoming BlackBerry Android handset may use some patented features in its BB 10 OS. Reuter said it got the scoop from four  sources who wished to remain anonymous because the plan has not been made public.

A slider handset with physical qwerty keyboard, rectangular screen etc. that was unveiled by BlackBerry at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, March is rumoured to come equipped with Google's Android OS.

 If the report is anything to go by, the upcoming BlackBerry slider smartphone, expected to be released this autumn, would be the first full-fledged Android-powered handset from the Ontario-based firm. Previous BlackBerry smart phones like the Z10 and Passport  only run Android apps.

The decision to put Android operating system in its next handset would allow the company pay more attention to its software and device management system(BES120), used largely by corporate organizations and governmental agencies.

As with all rumours and speculation , neither BlackBerry nor Google commented on the matter when contacted by Reuters. Although the former made it clear that it is still committed to its BlackBerry 10 operating system.

If the Canadian device maker eventually launched a BlackBerry Android smartphone, would you buy?Let me know what you think in the comments.

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