Research in Motion is struggling to keep its already low share of the smartphone market. Earlier this week, the Canadian-based company confirmed that it was laying off more of its team members. Now the Blackberry smartphone and OS creators are reportedly mulling over a plan that could see RIM part with one of its business divisions.
Reuters reports that according to a story in the UK-based Sunday Times newspaper, RIM is looking at a plan to either spin off or sell its handset part of the company. The newspaper did not cite any sources for this report. However, it added that if RIM does decide to part with the handset division, both Amazon and Facebook could be interesting in buying it from RIM.
A separation means that RIM would be left with its messaging service, which is still used by tens of millions of people around the world. However, the Sunday Times also reports that the messaging business could also be sold off or opened up for more smartphones to use such as iOS and Android devices.
Yet another option mentioned in the Sunday Times article would be for RIM to stay intact but to offer a stake in the firm to another company, with Microsoft mentioned as a possibility. That scenario could certainly be of a benefit to the Windows Phone division, which is still lagging behind even Blackberry in the smartphone market.
Source: Reuters
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