RIM and Microsoft

[mafu6]

So after todays announcements of Blackberry maker RIM losing heavily, and rumours that MSFT have approcahed RIM about making WP8 whats everyones thoughts of this if it happened?

Imagaine the possibilties... BBM on WP8? BB servers for businesses on WP8? And maybe decicated qwerty keyboard phones for WP8?

It would be a great move by MSFT to aquire RIM in my eyes... hooking up like they do with Nokia.

If only

Thoughts?

 

[ngc891]

I like the idea, I know plenty of people here in the UK that swear by Blackberry phones, though I think something needs to happen sooner rather than later because the Blackberry users I know are a dying breed. They seem to be mostly turning to iPhone...
I have never used a Blackberry myself, but I think increasing the user base with this method could only help WP.

 

[Dave Blake]

What announcement?

 

[palandri]

I saw this article. It's only rumor:

"...One of these options is for RIM to abandon its own operating system and adopt Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer had approached RIM in recent months, looking to strike a partnership similar to the one the software giant has with Nokia Oyj, the sources said...."

Exclusive: Microsoft tie-up, network sale among RIM options: sources | Reuters

 

[HeyCori]

What announcement?

Technically the announcement was yesterday.

$518 million net loss
5,000 job cuts
BB10 not due until Q1 2013

Link

If Microsoft waits a little longer they can probably buy RIM and Nokia for less than what they paid for Skype.

 

[selfcreation]

MS wouldn't buy RIM ,...

they haven even both NOKIA and they are in worst trouble then RIM...
but wasn't there rumors about this a few months ago and MS came on to say no its not true?.?.?


and il guaranty 100% that RIM would not even consider selling till AT LEASE after BB10 comes out.

but it make some cool Wp phones for sure

 

[jaj324]

This is part of Microsofts slow, deliberate climb to the top of the mobile heap. It may take a while but they will eventually grind past Apple and Samsung on their way to mobile dominance.

Sent from my PI86100 using Board Express

 

[Big Supes]

And the rumour mill keeps churning...

BlackBerry to get Windows 8? | Stuff magazine

 

[Mio_Ray]

If You could imagine a Lumia with WP and BES/BIS connectivity....... Yes, Please.

But I think that is a far stretch. On the other hand, with all the W8/WP8 they are really getting into the comfort zone of RIM; the Enterprise market.

Sent from my Lumia 800 using Board Express

 

[Hammered Pizza]

Would be good, but can't see it happening - would annoy Nokia far too much.

 

[theefman]

Apart from patents RIM doesnt present any benefits to Microsoft that would warrant a purchase. BES is Exchange's direct competitor and is more expensive which is already causing many corps to move to MS's solution since it supports the plethora of consumer devices that are invading the workplace. They dont need RIM to make a QWERTY device so I dont see the point. Getting them to run WP may be an idea, but then that puts them in the same position as Nokia, selling an OS struggling for marketshare. Top it all off with the fact that RIM's board favours sticking with BB10 anyway, and its all just speculation to drive page hits.

 

[inteller]

RIM will get sold off in bits like Nortel, another famous Canadian company, did.

 

[dkp23]

My opinion, it would be a mistake for MS to buy RIM. If RIM continues to crash and burn like they are currently doing, MS should look to acquire some patents and possibly license wp8 OS to RIM to use on the BB. RIM would then just be an OEM partner with MS like Nokia, Samsung HTC, etc etc.

I know BB still has a decently strong presence in the corporate world and enterprise customers, but that will change and is changing now as most corporation are now allowing their employees to use their own devices under the corporate plan. A BYOD strategy where the company doesnt need to invest in hardware and the liability remains with the user. I've talked to two carriers and they are seeing this trend already starting to happen within a number of large companies and my company is doing the same. Which means the you will likely see more android and iPhones used as corporate phones.

So with this, acquiring RIM outright would be a bad strategy move and again, they should look to vulture some patents and discuss a licensing partnership at the most.

It makes more sense for MS to acquire Nokia than RIM at this point and at any point in the future IMO.

 

[Joelist]

BES is not a competitor to Exchange. BES is more about remote management of mobile devices and mobile email. Exchange is a full featured first class (in fact best of breed) communications server for enterprises.

The Microsoft technology aimed at the mobile sector is ActiveSync and its server implementation is Exchange ActiveSync. Capability wise it is superior to BES and it costs less to boot - in fact for business using Exchange email (the vast majority) it costs nothing as it is built into Exchange server.

 

[based_graham]

Microsoft doesn't need RIM. If they wanted to they can make their own signature hardware keyboard WP8 device that would kill Blackberry.

 

[Mystictrust]

I read something completely different: RIM Apparently Not Interested In Switching To Windows Phone - Forbes

 

[cckgz4]

Eh I wouldn't buy

 

[fwaits]

I'd say no to buying, yes to partnering to run BB hardware on WP8 + BB services. WP8 brings some pretty heavy duty security to the table with it's TPM functionality, on-device encryption, AD policy management, etc. so I think a purchase of BB's tech/infrastructure at this point is just too over-priced to be worth it for MS. I have a feeling with the shared Windows code model, the Enterprise will be even more likely to keep/adopt Windows in all form factors more readily than others.

 

[fatclue_98]

If the price is right, MS should definitely buy RIM. The Nokia deal is a different animal altogether, RIM presents a built-in market share to go along with the coveted FIPS certification that guarantees government contracts. RIM handsets and the Blackberry OS are not consumer-oriented items and would provide an alternate revenue stream for MS. Locking down the enterprise sector would free up Nokia to hone in on "iPhone killing" devices and thus improve overall market share. I'm not a Harvard MBA but it would make sense to me.

 

[based_graham]

nah don't buy RIM waste of money