BlackBerry 10.3.1 update includes the Amazon Appstore

BlackBerry has just starting rolling out version 10.3.1 of its OS to a range of devices, including the BlackBerry Passport, Z30, Z3, Z10, Q10, and Q5. What is particularly interesting about this update is that it also includes the Amazon AppStore, granting Blackberry users access to a wide range of Android apps.

This update has been a long time in the making, Blackberry initially announced Amazon store integration back in June of 2014. Although not quite as extensive as the Google Play Store, Amazon’s AppStore contains a good portion of the most popular Android games and applications, which will really help bulk up the range of apps available to BlackBerry customers.

Following a huge decline in its market share, Blackberry has gradually been opening up to competing platforms, including porting its messenger service to other operating systems and promising support for Google’s Android Wear. While clearly a positive move for consumers, this will likely come at the cost of support for its own store, as developers no longer need to cater exclusively to Blackberry’s smaller platform.

BlackBerry 10.3.1 is rolling out to devices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East starting today, subject to carrier approval, while a North American release is scheduled for the future.