Kara Swisher wondering: Microsoft’s new mobile phone software is coming and its Project Pink –the multimedia touchscreen device project– is still undergoing, why should they buy RIM? “…in fact, many sources at Microsoft have told me that CEO Steve Ballmer has expressed interest in buying RIM many times.”
But Kara is not alone. Mark McKechnie, an analyst with Broadpoint AmTech also says the same thing.
“We think RIMM would try and block a deal and that an acquisition would likely have to be hostile for it to occur.” In addition, “RIMM’s OS could be difficult to port over to a full Windows environment, thus proving a weaker ‘end game’ for Microsoft.” A deal with RIM could also eclipse any previous Microsoft acquisition in terms of cost, which could prove prohibitive.
Both RIM and Microsoft saw their market share in the mobile arena decline by 1 point between September and December 2009, according to statistics watcher ComScore, leaving RIM with a 41.6 percent share and Microsoft with 18 percent. Meanwhile, both Google and Apple enjoyed incremental gains.
well I did use blackberry and if microsoft acquire RIM then well god only knows what will happen. :-)