Shares of Research In Motion Ltd. are climbing on rumours that the BlackBerry maker may be bought by software giant Microsoft Corp. RIM shares set a new trading record by rising as high as $89.68 (up $2.88 ) in late morning trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange. By the close, the stock has fallen back to $87.62, up 82 cents. "Microsoft has been mentioned as a possible buyer," Frederic Ruffy, an analyst at options education firm Optionetics, told Reuters. "According to speculation, the software giant might be interested in RIM in response to Google's recent announcement that it is interested in making its own mobile phone operating system, which would compete with Windows Mobile."
A number of analysts were quick to splash cold water on the rumours. "We're hearing the same rumour everyone else is, the Microsoft and RIM rumour,'' Steve Sachs, head of trading at Rydex Investments in Rockville, Md., told Bloomberg. "I can't even count the number of times we've heard that over the last three years.'' Both Waterloo, Ont.-based RIM and Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft declined to comment on the rumours. RIM's current market capitalization is about $48 billion, which would make a purchase of the company expensive. Microsoft, however, has deep pockets.
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News source: CBC News
A number of analysts were quick to splash cold water on the rumours. "We're hearing the same rumour everyone else is, the Microsoft and RIM rumour,'' Steve Sachs, head of trading at Rydex Investments in Rockville, Md., told Bloomberg. "I can't even count the number of times we've heard that over the last three years.'' Both Waterloo, Ont.-based RIM and Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft declined to comment on the rumours. RIM's current market capitalization is about $48 billion, which would make a purchase of the company expensive. Microsoft, however, has deep pockets.
View: Full Story News source: CBC News
I think you could be hitting on something here. Perhaps from this possible union of technology we will see a Microsoft zPhone...hmmm, possibilities.
bottom line, Microsoft is a software company that makes some devices. none of which are outstanding. I dont think either camp (MS or RIM) stands to gain much by blending two unique parts of the smart phone market.
I use it with my GPS =D
Blackberries as they stand now are more simplistic devices which could really benefit from a partial absorb of WM features.
bottom line, Microsoft is a software company that makes some devices. none of which are outstanding. I dont think either camp (MS or RIM) stands to gain much by blending two unique parts of the smart phone market.
I used to have a Treo with PalmOS until my work decided to give me a Blackberry - talk about a nightmare. On the positive side, my blackberry does what it is supposed to do, and that is get my work email. However it frequently decides to stop working. Either I can't place a call, can't browse the internet or the GPS stops working - and I do have good reception. The issue is fixed by applying the technical skill of "removing the battery and then re-inserting it." Another nifty feature is when I go to place a call that starts with the number 2, it gives me a java error and kicks me back to the home screen. The way to get around this is to just press the first few numbers very fast so it can't sit on that and crash.
I gave my wife my old Treo and it is much nicer than my BB. And I would rather have a WM phone as well. So basically my point is that the BB DOES have crummy software, does crash and does hang.
enter negotiations, make a deal, only to find Microsoft to pull the plug, and rip off the technology?
Will RIM end up like other companies (Sendo?) doing a deal with the devil, only to come out
minus their shirt! "Bye Bye RIM" ;-)
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