Microsoft could buy BlackBerry: Analysts

[dsneih]

With its newly launched PlayBook tablet failing to make a splash and this week's bold announcements about updating its aging smartphones not enthusing investors, speculation has begun that Microsoft may soon buy BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM).
The speculation has been triggered by the presence of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at RIM's BlackBerry World annual conference of customers, developers and partners in Florida this week.


Some time its very difficult to predict MS future plans

 

[agantuk]

If they are really serious about buying RIM, I wonder how much they are going to pay considering they spent lavishly on Skype. I don't think they need RIM considering they have Nokia with them. But then with Microsoft you never know. Are they trying to become an Oracle?

 

[Sushubh]

hah. i do not see THIS happening. RIM market capitalization is 22 Billion.

 

[agantuk]

My guess is Microsoft can come up with a better or on par mail delivery system themselves rather than depending on RIM for that. Apart from their push mail, I am not aware of anything fascinating or outstanding that differentiates them from the rest. Heck, even my Nokia has an excellent push mail system. Not quite so impressed with Android, but can't complain since their priorities seem to be different.

 

[Sushubh]

hello? microsoft already has microsoft exchange which is used by almost all big corporations. Apple ios, google android and Nokia devices all have to support it if they have to target corporate networks.

 

[agantuk]

I am talking about pushmail in general. The way Blackberry integrates. Exchange works fine for most corporates that use it.

 

[dsneih]

hah. i do not see THIS happening. RIM market capitalization is 22 Billion.

blackberry is loosing market share the are in tremendous pressure to improve them ... they launched playbook but not much positive response .. this will affect there market capitalization .. and if the same came down by 30-40 % share holder need some way to get there money back .. and MS is one of the possible buyer who have ample of cash ..

 

[Sushubh]

blackberry is nowhere near the mess where Nokia is today. they still are a profitable company. they are still huge in the corporate market. they still have a huge fan base. and they are not going anywhere for a long time to come. all of their products are pretty much in competition with microsoft products. they do not give anything to microsoft. its not like microsoft would replace exchange with blackberry platform. it does not compliment them in ANY form.

 

[dsneih]

Blackberry is known for corporate but they are loosing battle over there so now they are targeting normal users .. now BB is available from 9999 .. so thatss pretty cheap compared to what they use to offer .. previously people use to buy the BB due to there services but ppl buy these out of fantacy and status symbol and most of them don't activate BB service this tend to loose there revenue ... and now a days when other devices like android/iPhone offer free push email service who will pay such huge bb charges for push email service..

In ICICI bank they discontinued the BB from few dept and they advising employee to get the devices with push email service and i feel such trend will be followed by few other companies to save the cost alot ...


In india they are still struggling with government due to privacy policy so if govt take some strict action then this will affect there business .. govt banned the Nokia push email service so they can do the same with BB .. this is just example they are struggling with same privacy concern with few other country ...

MS tie up with BB on bing -- Microsoft's Bing To Deliver Default Search, Map On Blackberry Phones - eBrandz Search Marketing & Technology News

 

[mhsabir]

Not specific to Blackberry - but sometimes, the investors/owners like to make as much money as possible and exit while they are still in the green & move on to other pastures. With respect to Blackberry/Microsoft - Even I feel its a bit doubtful, unless Microsoft wants to takeover, use whatever RIM has to offer in terms of technologies/services to improve their own existing services or merge/integrate both the services & then dissolve RIM (after getting both Exchange/RIM clients with them)