RIM denies Android Runtime apps will bring security risks

CANADIAN GADGET MAKER Research in Motion (RIM) has played down the security risks of bringing Android apps to its Playbook tablet.

Google's Android operating system (OS) is the most targeted for malware because of its large user base and open nature. RIM's Playbook will soon get Android apps compatibility via the software feature Runtime, but it said that security risks will not come with the apps.

Speaking at RIM's Devcon Europe, Tim Neil, RIM application platform and tools product manager said, "For the Android side of things we've been making sure that we're sandboxing the actual Android Runtime in our same security model that we use for everything else."

He added, "We're making sure, very sure, that that Android Runtime is secure as possible on the platform."

He said that 65 per cent of Android apps require no changes to be ported for the Playbook. The Android application package file (APK) simply needs to be repackaged and signed for the Blackberry App World.

Although the majority of apps don't need changes, there are a quite a few restrictions. For example, apps that use session initiation protocol (SIP), voice over internet protocol (VOIP) or Bluetooth and apps with no user interface are not compatible with Runtime.

"Our goal is to try to get as close as possible [to 100 per cent], from a compatibility standpoint, with Android Gingerbread," said Neil.

It makes sense to go for Gingerbread compatibility, as more than half of Android device are using that version. However, RIM has made no announcement or commitment to support Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which is beginning to be rolled out to users.

Android Runtime will run at full speed directly on the operating system kernel and is not virtualised, said Neil. It will come with RIM's Playbook OS 2.0, which the firm will roll out to users this month. µ