Android apps that have been simply ported to BlackBerry 10 are proving unpopular with users, BlackBerry’s head of developer relations, Alec Saunders said. He went on to add: “From a commercial perspective, users hate them. Our partners who have ported apps get dinged for them.”
BlackBerry allowed developers to easily port over existing Android apps to BlackBerry 10 in order to boost the app count. It is estimated that around 20% of the BlackBerry World is now made up of these kinds of apps.
The problem is that these apps can’t access major features built into the device, limiting the app’s capability. In that sense, the developer programme will now focus on more innovative apps that take full advantage of the platform, rather than merely filling out the BlackBerry 10 app catalogue.
Earlier this week, the company’s CEO announced hitting the 120,000 BlackBerry 10 apps milestone.