Analysts speculate whether Microsoft will acquire RIM, but isn't Microsoft already a vital part of RIM's offering and vice versa?
Reuters speculates about whether Microsoft will acquire RIM, and it honestly strikes us as a pretty wild idea. Analyst Peter Misek at Canaccord Adams, however, feels certain that it only comes down to money and that RIM is a massive strategic fit for Microsoft.
Microsoft and Nokia recently announced an agreement of offering Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync on the latter's S60 smartphones, and the iPhone 3G also offers such support. If Microsoft chooses to, their solution will also support Google Android in the future. And most importantly, Microsoft Exchange is a vital part of RIM's key product, the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which is also offered on Windows Mobile through BlackBerry Connect.
So, why on earth should Microsoft acquire RIM? Because they've got money to burn as long as RIM's shares fall to $40? Using the financial downturn as a main reason to buy stocks is what will lead to the next one for sure, but despite RIM being a great company, we don't see what Microsoft would gain by acquiring RIM other than more struggles with hardware and software issues on the client side.
If anything, it would have to be based on preserving the position in the BlackBerry Enterprise Server solution, rather than the stock value. And that's what strikes us as wild, as we can't imagine seeing RIM screwing up its most valuable product.
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