BlackBerry maker RIM is considering a partnership with Microsoft after a slew of setbacks forced its board to study previously unthinkable options for the business.
RIM last week pushed back the release of its next-generation flagship BlackBerry devices to next year, claiming the endeavour had proven to be “more time consuming than anticipated,” blaming integration of new features and a huge volume of code.
It reported a $US2.2 billion ($A2.1 billion) drop in net profit for the 2012 financial year and announced 30 percent of its global workforce would lose their jobs this year.
It previously forecast cuts of at least 11 percent, or 2000 workers,as part of an effort to save $1 billion in operating costs.
The company is now considering abandoning its own operating system and taking on Microsoft's upcoming Windows Phone 8 mobile OS, reports Reuters.
RIM has in recent months been touting its upcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system, originally slated for release in late 2012. The company is boasting better security and management features as it strives to shore up support within business markets.
Newly-instated RIM CEO Thorsten Heins earlier this year said the BYOD trend was threatening RIM’s traditional enterprise smart phone user base.
The company’s release of BB10 will be the first step in a shift away from its struggling consumer business.
"We plan to refocus on the enterprise business and capitalise on our leading position in this segment," Heins said.
"We believe that BlackBerry cannot succeed if we tried to be everybody's darling and all things to all people.”
RIM’s shares plummeted over 20 percent in after hours trading yesterday to $7.54.
-1.jpg&w=100&c=1&s=0)
.png&w=100&c=1&s=0)
