RIM offers a free Playbook to Android developers

CANADIAN GADGET MAKER Research in Motion (RIM) has announced it will give away a free Playbook tablet to each Android developer who ports an app.

Android developers after a free tablet can get their hands on a Playbook 16GB model by simply porting an app to RIM's tablet operating system (OS). Developers have until 13 February to repackage and submit the app to the Blackberry App World.

Alec Saunders, VP of developer relations at RIM tweeted:

Shh.... Android Devs - submit your Android app to BB AppWorld by Feb 13 and get a free Playbook --> tools here: bit.ly/w758Ci

— Alec Saunders (@asaunders) February 2, 2012

The app must adhere to the App World Vendor guidelines and there are "terms and conditions that are principally designed to prevent abuse of the promotion", said RIM.

The firm has a set of tools to help developers convert their Android apps to the Blackberry OS including a web-based tool that verifies, repackages and signs the app.

RIM ran a similar promotion over a year ago before it launched the Playbook. It released a software development kit (SDK) for the tablet and gave away a free Playbook to anyone who downloaded it and used it to build an application.

RIM will release its Playbook OS 2.0 this month, which was detailed at the consumer electronics show (CES). In line with the promotion it will offer a Runtime feature to support Android apps. µ