Microsoft wants to buy RIM?
And the walls came crumbling down. Reuters ran a story yesterday, renewing speculation that software giant Microsoft is interested in acquiring Research in Motion. This appears to be purely analyst speculation at this point, but it’s important to note that RIM’s shares did experience a rather sizable 3% increase following the release of the news story. Apparently, at least according to the report, Microsoft’s interest could stem from the increased rumblings surrounding the Google phone. A pre-emptive strike, perhaps? There would seem to be a bit of a conflict here, however, as Microsoft currently manufacturers the software side of some of RIM’s biggest competition. Can anyone say anti-trust? That may be a bit of an over-exageration, with more than enough mobile OS options to go around, but it would be shame to see RIM fall at the hands of Microsoft. Let’s hope the rumors are just that for the time being. What do y’all think about the possible rumored acquisition?
Weel technichly M$ owns part of apple. 41% if I’m not mistaken. So this would be a conflict of interest. If anything I’d see M$ buying out palm and htc. Also rim’s OS is mor stable an java based winmo is coded in psk. And winmo 5 crashes like likw windows 95
Oh you gotta be kidding me. I hate my Treo for one reason and it’s called windows mobile. I can’t wait to switch back to a bb as soon as this contract is done. If this is actually happening, I might just buy out the contract now to switch to a shiny new bb w/o win mobile.
and so it begins…
“Microsoft owned $150 million of non-voting stock, which Apple bought back a few years later as part of a share buy-back scheme. Apple has been buying it’s own shares back for some time now.”
Sorry Gal, try again. It was a good faith gesture when they released the MS office for mac in ‘97. An it was always non-voting stock.
Anyways I think this is nothing but a bad rumor. If it were to happen I think M$ would assimilate parts of the BB OS into Windows Mobile. I wouldnt think that either company would benefit too much from this.
Don’t do it, RIM… Don’t do it.
So many rumors. This is good for RIM stock. But if they want to compete against the alleged Google phone, they have time. Although MS buying RIM is more of a shot against the iPhone IMHO.
As Test said MSFT no longer has an investment in Apple.
Also FTC would never let MSFT buy RIM.
Maybe with Palm being outdated and irrelevant they could grab them up on the cheap.
I cannot see why you think the FTC would have any problem with this?
If a takeover bid is launched, I really hope the Canadian govt steps in and doesn’t allow it.
If the FTC wants to step in a limit Whole Foods from buying Wild Oats due to perceived market limitations, then what do you think this will do?
By locking up blackberry in microsofts world then that is one less competitor unified with a very large competitor. If not stopped by this Admin, it will be by the next. They would own both the hardware and software that runs Blackberries.
Just a rumour. not gonna happen…not for a long time anyway…it doesnt make any sense.
Imagine winmo on a blackberry! Oh, the humanity!
I’d love a Blackberry with Windows Mobile. The Blackberry OS is terrible (I’ve seen it crash far too many times more than it should have. Can anyone say Java?), so Windows Mobile on a BB would be a great fix for RIM’s OS issues. I find WinMo to be much more stable than the Blackberry OS.
I friggin hope not. Message to RIM, “Run you fools! Keep it secret, keep it safe!”
Bryant i think your in about 1% of the users that have that opinion. BB OS is not fast or glitzy but it is very very reliable. I have not needed to restart or reboot my BB in months. I have 2 guys in the office with WM Treos and they are rebooting almost daily. I’m not a huge BB person but reliability is not a concern.
M$ Troll
@Bryant
Wow. Just wow. Winmo more stable than the BB OS is like calling Britney Spears more stable than Billy Graham. Definitely in the minority there my friend.
I’d have to agree with Bryant.
I don’t know about the stability of the Blackberry OS (this is the first time I’ve heard it prone to crashes, most Blackberry owners I know love it), but I love the look of a Curve and would love Windows Mobile 6 running on it.
However, I wrote about it yesterday here
http://morningpaper.typepad.com/morning_paper/2007/08/microsoft-buyin.html
I don’t think the rumors are true. At best maybe Microsoft approached them about creating a deal like they have with Palm but it makes no logical or business sense for Microsoft to be interested in purchasing RIM outright.
The rumored Google phone isn’t a threat to Microsoft, it is a threat to HTC, Nokia, Samsung or anyone else who makes the actual phone device, not the software.
Buying Rim is no way to hedge against the Google phone.
Microsoft is probably simply trying to increase the Windows Mobile penetration even more. Maybe RIM and Microsoft are in talks and there will be a WinMo Blackberry one day or maybe RIM told them to hit the curb.
But Microsoft buying RIM? I’d have to see it before I believe it.
Great another company ruined by Microsoft.
I for one would welcome a WM blackberry. The best feature of a BB is the hardware. The BB OS is so outdated it makes Palm look good. WM may not be the most stable OS in the world, but it is capable of doing twice what a BB can.
Honestly, the BB OS looks like you are reading a 1980’s typewriter, the web browser is horrible, the PIM apps look horrible and are hard to read compared to some of the WM plug ins (ie PI), the media player on a BB is a joke, and on and on.
Let’s not even mention that it’s almost 2008 and the brand new BB curve still does not support 3G HSDPA, and even WiFi has apparently baffled RIM for years. BB OS was fine 5 years ago, but WM has left them in the dust.
And honestly, my Tytn and blackjack have not had to be reset in probably 6+ months. They are VERY stable. Even my N95 had to be reset twice as often. Even the precious iphone lags way behind WM when you compare features.
People just like hatin’ on MS, but they have done a pretty good job w/ WM. Nobody wants to admit it though.
WM isn’t so good because they don’t control the hardware. They have to make it compatible with dozens of models/manufacturers.
IF they bought hardware, they can control the behavior.
Just like Xbox. They made games — worked pretty good. Made hardware, and then got games like project gotham and halo.
When MS controls hardware it does very well. Start at the MS mouse 2.0 from like the 80’s. look at where they are today with that division.
Never !
RIM should make somethi ng óf itself be original stay unique original the one and only ******************
Windows Mobile is simply terrible..mainly very slow response time and non-intuitive interface. I have to wonder what someone above me is smoking when they said they’d like a BB device running WinMo…
Well with active sync in Exchange 2003 and Exchange 2007 with live communications and unifided voice integrated, data age is coming, and most large corporations use M$ products so it would be a great benefit for M$ to get blackberry, i know the only reason our company switched to blackberry from palm, was to have a “blackberry” cause thats what everyone else has had. Blackberry has corner their place in the business market….this could be m$ door the mobile business market. with all of the 08′ software launching we know they have to have something huge in mind for the mobile users…..
Thats my 2cents