Toronto: Blackberry maker Research In Motion is planning for its newer models of smartphones, expected next year, to run applications designed for Google Inc’s Android operating system.

RIM’s newer models, which are expected to work on its yet-to-be-launched QNX operating system, will be compatible with the Android operating system, the report said, citing unnamed sources.

RIM might also come out with a PlayBook upgrade for the Android later this year.

Rather than being made available as an upgrade, the Canadian company plans to have the Android player in the QNX-running phones when they go on sale next year.

Of late,  iphone and Android phones have degraded the market share of Blackberry greatly. Android phones have become more popular as Google Inc’s Android OS runs on the main handsets of big time companies like Sony Ericsson, Motorola and Samsung.

Google revealed in late june this year that consumers were activating more than half a million Android devices every day.