BlackBerry takeover speculation rises again

BlackBerry was again the subject of takeover speculation, shortly after the company announced more job cuts in its latest reshuffle.

According to reports, Microsoft is among the potential suitors for BlackBerry, as it looks to bolster its position in the mobile market. Following its acquisition of the bulk of Nokia’s Devices & Services business, it seems unlikely that Microsoft is after the Canadian company’s smartphone business; rather, its enterprise mobility management and security tools are likely to be the prize.

Chinese players Huawei, Lenovo and Xiaomi are also reported to have looked at BlackBerry.

BlackBerry does still have a significant brand presence, particularly in the enterprise market across the US and Europe. It also has an intellectual property portfolio that may prove appealing, particularly to Xiaomi, which some observers believe is hamstrung in this area.

Reports earlier this year linked BlackBerry and Samsung, although both companies denied this was the case. The pair are working together, however, in the enterprise mobility space.

In the Canadian player’s latest reshuffle, it said its intention is to “reallocate resources in ways that will best enable us to capitalise on growth opportunities while driving toward sustainable profitability across all facets of our business”.

The number of positions to be cut as a result of the company’s realignment has not been confirmed.

BlackBerry has seen its device volumes plummet in recent years, making it more and more difficult to profitably sustain this unit. While it has introduced new devices designed to target die-hard BlackBerry loyalists – such as BlackBerry Classic and BlackBerry Passport – there is little sign that these are driving a turnaround in its fortunes.