<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is considering splitting itself in two, separating its handset unit and its messaging business, according to a report.\nThe struggling RIM, which hired JP Morgan and RBC Capital last month to explore its strategic options, is considering breaking off the handset unit as a separate listed company and then possibly selling it, according to The Sunday Times, which did not cite sources. (Link unavailable.) Among the potential buyers cited in the article: Facebook and Amazon. Selling to Apple and Google is another possibility as is selling a stake to a larger firm like Microsoft.\nA rep from RIM offered the following statement on the report: \n\"RIM has hired advisers to help the company examine ways to leverage the BlackBerry platform through partnerships, licensing opportunities, and strategic business model alternatives. As [CEO] Thorsten [Heins] said on the company's fourth-quarter earnings call, 'We believe the best way to drive value for our stakeholders is to execute on our plan to turn the company around.' This remains true.\"\nThe report comes as RIM's fortunes have declined as Apple and Google edged it from a leader in the smartphone market to a distant-third competitor. In its last quarter, RIM's revenues fell 19% and the company posted its first loss in seven years. RIM is expected to report its latest quarterly revenues on Thursday. \nImages courtesy of Flickr, miggslives"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2012/06/25/rim-split-in-two-blackberry/?WT.mc_id=en_blackberry>