While it runs Research In Motion’s (RIM) QNX operating system, the soon-to-be-released BlackBerry PlayBook tablet will also be able to run apps made for Android. That’s the word from RIM, which announced the new capability on Thursday.

[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]RIM announced that the PlayBook will be able to operate Java applications, as well. What’s more, the native software development kit (SDK) for creating PlayBook applications using C/C++ will soon be released.

According to RIM, the Android support works using an “app player” – a run-time environment that supports Android 2.3-compatible software. The software works in conjunction with a secure “sandbox” that enables the PlayBook to run Java or Android apps.

Android app developers repackage, code-sign and submit apps to the BlackBerry App World system; the apps are then approved and distributed to PlayBook users.

RIM indicates that PlayBook has picked up support for Ideaworks Labs and Unity Technologies, makers of popular cross-platform game engines. Unity got its start on the Mac, and has been a leading force in the creation of iOS apps.

RIM has been positioning the PlayBook as an alternative to Apple’s iPad. It was first unveiled in 2010 but is only now coming to market – RIM says the device will be in stores beginning April 19, at a price to match the iPad’s.

In the same press release announcing Android app support, RIM outlined details about its native app development program for third-party developers. The Native Development Kit (NDK) is expected to go into open Beta sometime this summer. It enables developers to create software for playbook using the QNX POSIX library and C/C++.