IBM Interested in RIM Enterprise Services Unit – Report

IBM is reportedly interested in acquiring troubled BlackBerry manufacturer RIM’s enterprise services unit.

Bloomberg reported that IBM has made an informal approach about possibly buying the division, which operates a network of secure services to support RIM’s BlackBerry devices.

However, no takeover talks are currently happening, according to two people familiar with the situation.

RIM enterprise services

In June, RIM was forced to deny reports it was planning to split itself into two companies. One would control its handset operations and the other its messaging platform which has attracted the attention of the likes of Apple and Google, reports suggested.

No party has been linked to an acquisition of the whole company, although RIM is not keen on discussing a sale as it builds up to the launch of its smartphones running the BlackBerry 10 OS. The new operating system is seen as vital to the company’s chances of a recovery and is due to debut in January next year after a series of delays.

BlackBerry smartphones accounted for just 4.8 percent of all shipments during the second quarter of 2012 as users have flocked to rival operating systems such as iOS and Android, which currently dominate the market.  RIM’s finances have suffered and it currently faces a £661 million writedown on unsold devices.

In May, RIM hired JP Morgan Chase and the Royal Bank of Canada to study its strategic options and CEO Thorsten Heins would reportedly prefer to find a partner or license the BlackBerry operating system rather than sell the company.

The company may be in trouble, but what about BlackBerry phones? Try our quiz!