RIM mulls pimping BlackBerry OS to Samsung – report
Troubled biz brings in the bankers
RIM is seeking a financial consultant to help it with its recent money woes and is considering licensing out its mobile operating system, according to a report in Bloomberg.
The Canadian company is still dealing with the consequences of last quarter's $125m loss and the exodus of the BlackBerry old guard, and is turning to the bankers to consider the company's serious financial problems, the story claimed.
The Bloomberg source listed out the options RIM is considering in order of preference: licensing out its operating system, possibly to Samsung; throwing some of the company's cash into a strategic investment in some new technology; or, as a last resort, an outright sale of the business.
Asked to confirm or deny the story, Blackberry's UK PR said it did not comment on rumours and speculation but would provide "formal, periodic updates" when there was "material news to share".
It comes after another phone giant, Nokia, suffered a downgrade on its debt ratings and warned that its financial situation would only get worse – showing how precarious the once-booming phone market has become for the smaller players. ®
COMMENTS
Re: Too late for last years idea's
"Too little, too late. I predict a clockwise rotation on the drain."
Rimming?
RIM has a strong presence because of BBM only. It is their last ace to play.
They should be looking at adopting Android and letting their user base access the Android App Store in addition to secure business communications via BES. With Boeing getting into the secure Android smartphone space this is RIM's last chance.
Rims +
BBM
Secure Push EMAIL that works
Robust Handsets (excluding touch versions)
Rims -
OS 6+ (too flakey and too slow)
No support, No technical information for building apps.
Shitty touch screen phones
Conclusions
Dump the custom OS, write the Email applications for android and add BBM.
Result
Beer.
Samsungs reaction...
Are they serious???
Tell them, "yes we would love to stop making our best selling iphone beating Android handsets and adopt Backberry OS that's got no apps and no future"...
They would be better licencing out their patents and provide access to their services. It's about all they have that is of any value.
