Rumor: RIM Board Being Pressured Into Microsoft or Network Sale Deal

 BlackBerry Windows Phone

There have been rumors swirling around about this for awhile now but according to Reuters the pressure on RIM’s board has been increased as of late. Essentially the naysayers are trying to force RIM to admit that they cannot continue with their strategy of simply focusing on BlackBerry 10 and may need to accept what Reuters calls “unpalatable options.” One of the options Reuters said is on the table is that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has approached RIM “in recent months” to sign a deal similar to what they did with Nokia. That would have RIM developing Windows phones and Microsoft buying a stake in RIM and funding marketing and other cash subsidies. The other option has the possibility of RIM selling their network or NOC to a private equity or tech company.

Personally I think that these options are just as difficult for RIM to swallow as they were a few months ago. I am truly hoping that RIM’s board can withstand the unbelievable pressure they will be facing in the next 6-9 months to not sacrifice the promise of BlackBerry 10 or the network that differentiates it. Still it will be a long painful journey for them to do so which seems to mean the board will have to make concessions somewhere. The big question now seems to be what they will have to sacrifice to keep the BlackBerry 10 dream alive. They have already put some serious cost cutting measures in place but Thorsten Heins admitted that more will have to come.

What do you think would be an acceptable solution for the Board to be able to satiate investors until BlackBerry 10 is a reality? I personally think licensing the BlackBerry keyboard and BBM might be possible options.

Image Credit: Weetigo @TheVerge thx @jamesdax

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