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Rumours surface again of RIM licensing BlackBerry 10 to Samsung

By on March 16, 2012 at 1:12pm in Mobile News


The on again, off again RIM rumours are back. In the past there’s been several rumours of RIM being the target of a takeover, or possibly licensing their upcoming BlackBerry 10 OS to other manufacturers. Samsung was apparently interested, but this rumour was quickly foiled in January when James Chung, Samsung spokesman, said “We haven’t considered acquiring the firm and are not interested in (buying RIM)”. Shortly after RIM’s co-CEO’s Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie decided to step down, thus ushering in a new direction with Thorsten Heins.

Heins stated on his first day as President and CEO that “I will not in anyway split this up or separate this into different businesses. Now on the licensing piece. I’m absolutely confident that BlackBerry 10 will prove itself as a platform. If there is requests coming towards Research In Motion to talk about licensing that platform to other companies I will entertain those discussions, I will listen, I will access the business opportunity for RIM and if it makes sense strategically and tactically to go down that path, and then I will make the decision together with the board. It’s not my focus one. My focus one is to strengthen RIM’s business based on that integrated approach.”

Fresh, re-visited, rumours have once again surfaced today. A report in the Barron’s today states that the reason RIM’s stock (RIMM) is up over 5% today is because Samsung, according to Collin Gillis with BGC Partners, “is looking to make a minority investment in the company and to develop phones based on RIM’s forthcoming “BBX” operating system, which RIM is counting on to resuscitate the company’s phone portfolio.”

Apparently the reason why Samsung is expressing interest in RIM is because their nervous about the Google/Motorola acquisition and how it might impact Android. Samsung has also committed to producing handsets with Microsoft’s Windows Phone, but Gillis says “Obviously new management has been sitting down and saying, Maybe we could extend the platform and bring something new into the ecosystem”. As for timing? Gillis was also quoted to say “I could give you a better answer in the fall… When we see how much the platform has deteriorated”.

RIM is expected to launch new smartphones with the BlackBerry 10 OS “in the latter part of this year”. They have already started to reach out to the developer community and will most likely showcase the platform off in May during BlackBerry World.

Source: Barron’s

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Discussion

26 comments for “Rumours surface again of RIM licensing BlackBerry 10 to Samsung”

  1. Go RIM!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 48 Thumb down 6

    Posted by Nate | March 16, 2012, 1:21 pm
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    • Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 14

      Posted by RIMRumour | March 16, 2012, 1:41 pm

    • Samsung to “license” a non-existent OS, interesting.

      Remember when the stock was at $13 last time the rumours came out as well. Its another attempt by wall street to set up a short position before RIM’s March 29 earnings release cluster****.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 15

      Posted by RIM IS DEAD - TRUE STORY | March 16, 2012, 5:12 pm

  2. Precisely what I was going to say. I’m loving OS 2.0 so I’m looking forward to BB 10 as well.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 40 Thumb down 9

    Posted by Me Ted | March 16, 2012, 1:28 pm
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  3. Hmmmmmmm

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 11

    Posted by Megahertz | March 16, 2012, 1:29 pm
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  4. seems like a smart idea on samsungs part… microsoft/nokia, google/motorola, license another platform and roll with it, it may pay off huge

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 30 Thumb down 2

    Posted by b | March 16, 2012, 1:31 pm
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  5. Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 30

    Posted by howitzer | March 16, 2012, 1:32 pm
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  6. If this is true there may be some securities related issues. Are idividuals/insiders trading on undisclosed material information? The OSC should get involved. It’s completely unfair if those with inside knowledge get to benefit.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 10

    Posted by JadonFresh | March 16, 2012, 1:33 pm
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    • that is just pure speculation this happens ALL the time…. rumours are just rumours until they come into fruitition….

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0

      Posted by i | March 16, 2012, 1:47 pm

  7. Rumours.. these are just Samsung Fanboys who are jealous with Blackberries success and are now wishing they could get BB10 soon. Rim is the future, they will innovate and turn themselves around. Just wait!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 29 Thumb down 29

    Posted by Betty Koyle | March 16, 2012, 1:34 pm
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  8. YES YES YES. GO RIM GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 7

    Posted by beh | March 16, 2012, 1:44 pm
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  9. samsung galaxy bold?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 2

    Posted by chall2k5 | March 16, 2012, 1:45 pm
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  10. Please stop the fanboyism, it’s childish.

    I hope this happens for RIM’s sake. Don’t want to see them go under. Samsung licensing BB10 instantly legitimizes the platform.

    Assuming this rumour is true, they should also bring BBM to existing Samsung handsets. That would be fantastic for both BlackBerry and Samsung users

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 29 Thumb down 2

    Posted by Rob | March 16, 2012, 1:50 pm
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  11. prove us that BB10 is worth buying first. then we can talk.
    geez

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 16

    Posted by prove us first | March 16, 2012, 1:56 pm
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  12. Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 12

    Posted by Stefan Rees | March 16, 2012, 2:00 pm
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    • samsung makes

      android phones
      bada phones
      and basically make a LOT of components of the Iphone

      they will just branch out to BB territory to be sure to continue to be 1st (because they are…)

      BBM on all samsung phones (even android ones) would be great

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 1

      Posted by kad | March 16, 2012, 2:06 pm

  13. I think this would be a great move on RIMs part. Samsung for the hardware and RIM for the software. Superior hardware + Superior software = Win for both companies

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 6

    Posted by Kid.Canada | March 16, 2012, 2:01 pm
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  14. Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 11

    Posted by shaggyskunk | March 16, 2012, 2:26 pm
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  15. A Galaxy nexus style phone dubbed the “BlackBerry One”. And its cousin the “BlackBerry One K” with slide out droid style keyboard but with Bold style buttons.

    Just do it. Spec it right. Welcome Back.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1

    Posted by Gene | March 16, 2012, 2:49 pm
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  16. I hope RIM does this. There’s no way that BB can compete with Android or iOS if only RIM manufactures handsets.

    If they do license out the OS though I just hope it doesn’t get all fragmented like Android with all its many variations.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1

    Posted by Matt | March 16, 2012, 3:09 pm
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  17. “their nervous about the Google/Motorola acquisition”

    Ahem. The nervous of whom?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2

    Posted by Alvis | March 16, 2012, 3:57 pm
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  18. @RIM IS DEAD – TRUE STORY – Not everyone is an iTard! Choice in life is a good thing.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 9

    Posted by BB King | March 16, 2012, 5:39 pm
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  19. @RIM dead guy above
    You do realize that Apple was basically down under before MS stepped in and provided capital and Jobs turned around with some new ideas.

    Just because a company is at its lowest, you shouldn’t dismiss it. Maybe 13$ per share means you should start buying some. It may or may not pay off, but if it doesn’t pay off you lose 13$max, if it does go up back to $143, that’s over 1000% increase. Just food for thought.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 2

    Posted by really? | March 16, 2012, 7:22 pm
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  20. The way I see it, it’s a win-win scenario. Rim can’t get good hardware for a good price. (look at 9900 pricing) This opens the door to the best hardware on the market. Samsung can’t comfortably continue to claim dominance with Android, they increase their portfolio with BB10 and have investments in two major mobile OS. Who has the most apps after iOS and Android? Samsung could make an equally performing OS if they wanted to. They know that the apps are what make it relevant however. Rim’s OS gives them a balance of performance and apps to build off of. Seems like a no brainer for both companies to me! I personally would love to see it happen.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1

    Posted by sam | March 16, 2012, 7:54 pm
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  21. apple makes a good product. samsung galaxy and asus transformer prime some people consider are better tablets. Blackberry playbook at less thanhalf price of apple is an excellant product for the money. they all do emails,
    contacts , games, ms office, ebook reading etc. ipad2 did not shoot or show 1080p (american hdtv standard). samsung, asus, blackberry playbook are capabe showing and shooting in 1080p. apple came out with a good user friendly product first and was able with manipulation of media and people
    created demand. According to Jobs technical specs are not that important and this has proved to be right by adoring media and apple fans. if blackberry had not bungled with original playbook they could have been in a different spot.blackberry is sucessful in asia because they provide great value for money by including email,contacts, bbm free with all of their phones.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1

    Posted by msruknar | March 17, 2012, 10:34 am
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