Blackberry signs deal to access Amazon app store

SEATTLE, June 18 (UPI) -- Blackberry said Wednesday it had signed a deal to access apps on Amazon's Appstore, saying it will now focus on its corporate and government clients.

With the launch of the Blackberry 10 platform, users can now port Android apps on its operating system. The deal will give Blackberry users access to Amazon's 240,000 apps, in addition to the 130,000 apps in its own app store. The company will now be able to expand its current offering of games, video, music and other mobile apps in the hope of getting more consumers to like its platform.

Blackberry has been criticized for not having a a vibrant app store and has had to rely on the small crop of developers who remain loyal to the platform. In comparison, the Apple App Store and Google's Google Play have over a million apps each, with newer apps being uploaded on a daily basis.

John Chen, BlackBerry's chief executive, said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that this gives the company to leverage other opportunities, like working on its security systems and provide better services to its enterprise clients.

"I do not have to spend time, energy and money" developing apps that Amazon offers, Chen said. "Given I want to financially turn around the company and focus on the enterprise space, this is perfect for us."

Chen's statement comes a day before Blackberry is expected to report its quarterly results. Industry experts and investors expect the company to report a loss but news of its renewed focus on software and security features could placate critics.

Chen also said that Amazon's expected announcement Wednesday that it will launch its own smartphone will not affect Blackberry's deal for access to the Appstore.

"Our focuses are different," he said, "my devices are focused on the enterprise, highly secure," whereas the Amazon phone is targeted at the individual consumer.