Rumor: RIM considers split into two companies

Ailing BlackBerry maker RIM is considering splitting itself into two companies, anonymous sources report to The Sunday Times. One company should make phones, while the other will manage the messaging software.

According to Reuters, citing a non-publicly accessible article from The Sunday Times, a split is a serious strategic option. The split could allow the messaging technology, which is used for the popular BlackBerry Messenger, among other things, to be sold to other companies, such as Google or Amazon. It also makes it easier to license the software to competitors. RIM is said to have engaged investment banks JP Morgan and RBC Capital to discuss strategic options.

A split isn’t the only option being discussed by RIM and its partners. An alternative option is to continue the company in its entirety, but sell a large portion of the stock to a large company, such as Microsoft. It is unclear how realistic this option is, but earlier rumors have surfaced that Microsoft is willing to pay $3.5 billion for half of RIM’s shares.

Things have been going bad for RIM for a long time. The Canadian manufacturer sees the popularity of its BlackBerrys decline and the new BlackBerry 10 operating system, which should ensure a turnaround, has been considerably delayed. As a result, the company has already had to cut a large number of jobs. It has been rumored for some time that RIM has engaged investment banks to discuss strategic options. A sale of the company has already been mentioned several times.