Microsoft Reportedly Planning to Buy BlackBerry

[Karamjit]

Redmond hires firms to determine the value of BlackBerry

This isn’t the first time we’re hearing such a rumor, but Microsoft is once again said to be interesting in taking over Canadian phone manufacturer BlackBerry as part of a deal that would help the software giant expand its mobile efforts in the business industry and increase its share in key markets.

Betaville reports via sources close to the plans that Microsoft has already hired Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs to determine how much BlackBerry is worth, but the software giant hasn’t yet made an offer, so negotiations between the two companies are yet to start.

While it’s not clear if BlackBerry is for sale or not, it seems that it all depends on the amount of money that Microsoft is willing to spend to take over the Canadian company. According to the very same report, Microsoft has a budget of $7 billion (€6.3 billion) for buying BlackBerry if negotiations go through.

BlackBerry patents, the main target

Some might believe that Microsoft is planning to purchase BlackBerry for its know-how in the business and phone security area, but it turns out that’s not the case.

The Redmond-based Windows developer is actually trying to get BlackBerry because of its patents, which could be then used for new technologies that would be implemented in Windows 10 Mobile.

Microsoft reportedly planned to license BlackBerry’s patents, but due to the high price that it might have to pay in the long term, it’s actually switching to a takeover that would bring in a lot more benefits and provide access not only to patents but also to technology, devices, and designs for the business industry.

Needless to say, Microsoft doesn’t want to comment on these rumors, and this isn’t the first time the software giant is linked to a possible acquisition of the Canadian phone maker, so take everything with a pinch of salt until an official statement is provided.

In the meantime, some other companies might be looking at BlackBerry for a potential takeover, including Microsoft’s long-time rival Apple, which is also seeking new ways to expand in the enterprise market. Just like in Microsoft’s case, the talks with Apple are yet to be confirmed.

From: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Reportedly-Planning-to-Buy-BlackBerry-481453.shtml

[OrioNeXus]

bought nokia now blackberry microsoft is planning for smartphone domination :unsure: :(

[dMog]

for business applications blackberry rules.... the problem lies in the fact that 99% of BlackBerry users feel no need to change phones every 6 months....as they do not use smart phones as toys :lol:

[CODYQX4]

They should have bought AOL, buy MySpace, and buy the Typewriter industry while they're at it.

Also please buy all fax machines and nuke them. F**K Fax Machines.

@dMog, is there any real reason they can't implement the backend apps without the phones? Their phones are awful, and all the executives and the rest of market has spoken to that, that they'd rather use iOS/Android. The damn president wanted an iPhone over his old BlackBerry. 99% of BlackBerry users is how many given that 99% pre-iPhone have probably jumped ship, or are forced to use a BlackBerry because policy dictates that, and they smuggle an iPhone or a Galaxy in and carry 2 phones?

I think MS should triple down on cloud and business services and give up on hardware. It's really too late to do their own phone hardware, and never since computing got mainstream enough to matter have THREE OS ecosystems thrived. It was Windows domination, a tiny bit of Mac, and Linux on the fringes to which nobody could laughably claim as having significant marketshare in comparison. They want people to get rid of all their apps (or crappily port them which probably violates licenses and pisses off those who control the App Stores where 99% of app profit is made), AND buy into a hardware system where phones are meant to be replaced quickly. Good luck, you can't get people off XP on a 15 year old PC, good luck getting people off of superior phones and ecosystems.