Blackberry is up for sale

[SAWYER]

http://m.us.wsj.com/articles/BL-MBB-6253

 

[Imp]

Wow... I heard this too when I woke up on the news, but I just read that trading has been halted. Now THAT is a story...

http://www.thestar.com/business/2013/08/12/blackberry_share_trading_halted_on_nasdaq_wsj.html

 

[Ravynmagi]

They probably should have just started making their own Android phones with the BBM built into it. Probably would have done much better and survived.

 

[BladeVenom]

Market Cap: 5.67B

Group buy anyone?

 

[JAG87]

Well I called it. By 2014 the name Blackberry will be history. Someone will want their patents though, no doubt. Microshit or China Mobile might bite.

 

[jiffylube1024]

First their stock spikes just on rumors of a sale (that was sometime in the spring). Are they hoping to make lightning strike twice by making it official?

I mean, there's what, three companies that can realistically buy them right: Google, Apple, Microsoft. Does it make any sense for any of those companies? Microsoft maybe?

 

[Riceninja]

so wheres "Ihatemyjob2004" now? you know, the know-it-all that was so sure the z10 would sell 10s of millions and rebound this company?

 

[Joe1987]

Well I called it. By 2014 the name Blackberry will be history. Someone will want their patents though, no doubt. Microshit or China Mobile might bite.

They're already licensed and cross licensed to death.

 

[biostud]

The BB users are slowly switching to WP, so why would MS want to spend money on buying BB?

 

[BladeVenom]

The BB users are slowly switching to WP, so why would MS want to spend money on buying BB?

They're switching to Android and iOS even faster.

 

[biostud]

They're switching to Android and iOS even faster.

Also corporate?

 

[Deeko]

They probably should have just started making their own Android phones with the BBM built into it. Probably would have done much better and survived.

People keep saying this but just because Android fills Samsung's coffers doesn't mean it would Blackberry's. They might have sold more phones but that doesn't mean they'd make more money. Ultimately, they should have made BB10 a few years earlier.

Anyway, they've formed these "task forces" before, but that doesn't mean it will happen. I could see it going private - they have plenty of cash and wouldn't have to be so beholden to stockholder demands. If someone buys it, it would likely be Samsung, but I don't really see it happening.

 

[ultimatebob]

I would think that Microsoft should buy a major stake of BlackBerry, with the understanding that Windows Phone 8.x gets installed on all of future BlackBerry models. BlackBerry basically becomes a skin and a collection of apps from that point onward.

Microsoft... buying cell phone OS market share one percent and one billion dollars at a time

 

[pantsaregood]

I would think that Microsoft should buy a major stake of BlackBerry, with the understanding that Windows Mobile 8.x gets installed on all of future BlackBerry models. BlackBerry basically becomes a skin and a collection of apps from that point onward.

Microsoft... buying cell phone OS market share one percent and one billion dollars at a time

You think Microsoft is going to build a new OS and revive the Windows Mobile brand when their current strategy is finally leading to gains?

 

[Joe1987]

A MS purchase wouldn't be completely dumb. QNX is a good industrial OS, BB isn't a complete wash, they could pay their way.

Hmmmmm...

 

[Deeko]

If Microsoft were to buy a hardware manufacturer, you have to imagine it would be Nokia.

 

[ultimatebob]

You think Microsoft is going to build a new OS and revive the Windows Mobile brand when their current strategy is finally leading to gains?

Sorry... I meant Windows Phone and not Windows Mobile. But you probably already knew that... smartass

 

[88keys]

AMD could buy them lol

 

[gorcorps]

Also corporate?

Our company is going to iPhones as we ditch blackberry. Most large corporate environments don't look twice at windows mobile because (and I asked this) "iPhones are already established, windows phones have a greater chance at failing and we'll have to switch again."

The sheer amount of people that use blackberries in my company is huge. Avoiding another large replacement cost is important. Honestly between all my school friends I can't think of anyone who works with windows phones.

 

[cbrunny]

The BB users are slowly switching to WP, so why would MS want to spend money on buying BB?

What? Nonsense.

I know one person that has made this switch. All (at least a dozen) others I'm aware of have gone to either iOS or Android.

I could see Microsoft jumping on this, but I am not sure what they would do with it. It's probably an easier/more profitable business model to have other companies manufacture phones with windows licensing. If I'm wrong, it is at least substantially less risky.

Blackberries are supposedly huge in India - wouldn't be surprised to see it migrate out of NA completely.

 

[MrX8503]

Maybe RIM should have answered the iPhone in 2007 rather than 5 years later.

MS took the leap of faith and killed WinMo to compete and now they're still around in the mobile arena.

 

[Oyeve]

Interesting. I would hope someone buys their email tech.

 

[ultimatebob]

Maybe RIM should have answered the iPhone in 2007 rather than 5 years later.

MS took the leap of faith and killed WinMo to compete and now they're still around in the mobile arena.

They tried with the Blackberry Storm, but it was total rubbish. They really should have gone down the Android route instead.

 

[corkyg]

The investment world senses that Microsoft is moving away from this market. BBs are no longer cool.

 

[gorcorps]

Interesting. I would hope someone buys their email tech.

At this point I don't see anything about their email tech that the competitors haven't already caught up with and surpassed. They really missed thier opportunity.