BlackBerry in licensing pact with Amazon for android apps

BlackBerry today said it has entered into a licensing deal with Amazon, which will give BlackBerry 10 users access to 240,000 android apps on the e-commerce giant's app store, a move aimed at boosting the sales of its latest smartphone.
In a statement today, BlackBerry said: "Amazon Appstore will be available with the launch of the BlackBerry 10.3 operating system this fall, greatly expanding access to thousands of the most popular apps and games to BlackBerry customers."
With more than 240,000 Android applications in the Amazon Appstore worldwide, BlackBerry 10 device customers will gain access to popular apps such as Groupon, Netflix, Pinterest, Candy Crush Saga and Minecraft, it added.

"The strategic move also enables BlackBerry to align its developer program with its renewed focus on delivering the most secure, end-to-end mobile enterprise solutions, by placing more emphasis on the development of vital enterprise and productivity applications," the firm said.
BlackBerry and Amazon will be working with the BlackBerry application developer community to help them migrate their apps to the Amazon Appstore in preparation for the 10.3 launch, where they will benefit from the store's powerful promotional tools that enable maximum discoverability and profitability.
"Making the Amazon Appstore available on BlackBerry 10 devices will help BlackBerry continue to meet two essential needs: greater app availability for our smartphone users and enhanced productivity solutions for enterprises," BlackBerry Executive Chairman and CEO John Chen said. The Waterloo (Ontario)-based firm also has its own app store, BlackBerry World. BlackBerry 10.3 users will also have access to BlackBery world over 1,30,000 apps.