Open Source BlackBerry Device Doubtful

by Lisa Hoover - Oct. 23, 2008Comments (1)

If you've hung on to your BlackBerry smartphone in the hopes that you'll one day see an open source version of it's code, you're in for a long wait.

Blackberry phoneSpeaking at the BlackBerry Developer Conference hosted by Research In Motion (RIM), RIM Senior Software Developer Cassidy Gentle said, "I would expect some of our Eclipse or Mobile Tools for Java could be made available on an open source basis, but as for our APIs or other software—that's a pretty big leap."

Many developers in the audience during the presentation said they weren't particulary interested in seeing the source code, while others say it it would help them better understand RIM's technical thinking.

RIM's unwillingness to open its code hasn't hampererd the creativity of some developers who are content to create their own open source applications for the ubiquitous devices. OpenCOD provides a place "for the BlackBerry community to come together and create really good software for the BlackBerry and any backend applications needed on platforms like Lotus Domino, Microsoft, Novell, SAP and so on."

If you're not up to speed on BlackBerry development, IBM has a helpful tutorial. If you don't feel like doing the heavy lifting yourself, however, just grab one of these five free and open source BlackBerry apps.

Or you can just pick up the Google Phone.


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1 Comments
 

I checked out the new T-mobile Google phone now in stores. It is pretty cool, especially with full wi-fi browsing. I am happy to see iPhone, BlackBerry, now Android phones as well as the more traditional but innovative phones from from Nokia, Sony and Samsung battle it out. There is going to be lots of innovation and as a consumers we will all benefit.


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