Rumors of RIMM looking to get bought have been going on for months, if not even longer in private within the company.  Everyone knows they are in trouble.  With a failed BlackBerry OS 7 device launch and lineup to the Playbook having all sorts of fail, lined up with the news that its likely only one BlackBerry 10 device at some point in the future, whenever that may be, put them in the “high risk factor” for investors.

We ask you guys and gals, do you think that RIM will be sold off, either partially or fully this year?

This one is hot off the press, and it comes straight from the Wall Street Journal.  According to people familiar with the matter it would appear that Microsoft and Nokia talked about a joint venture to buy Research in Motion (RIMM).  While they do not know the current status of these talks the fact remains that if they even took place is huge.  RIM as we all know has been taking a beating as of late, with a declining stock over the course of 2011 and very underwhelming device’s.  Even their BlackBerry 10 devices, now looking to launch in late 2012/2013, will already be under powered compared to their Android and iPhone counterparts.

Those of you with a Blackberry Playbook (although there are not really that many of you) that are looking for a way to increase your app catalog 10 fold can now root and install the Android Market directly on the tablet.  We have the directions below.  Just remember, RIM can and WILL find a way to patch this so if you want to keep it you will not be able to update to their latest Playbook software until another root method is found.   Instructions after the jump! (more…)

The declining sales from the BlackBerry phone maker, Research In Motion Ltd, has forced the company to write off much of its inventory of PlayBook tablets. The originally priced $500 tablet has now been reduced to $200. Many users felt that the PlayBook was underdeveloped, as well as, lacking certain email features. RIM has promised an update in February.

Source

RIM has just announced a new software update for their BlackBerry PlayBook. It will bring a few new features and several bug fixes to the device. Some of those new features include Adobe Air 3.1 and Adobe Flash 11.

A new version of the BlackBerry® PlayBook OS is now available to all BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet users – BlackBerry PlayBook OS v1.0.8.4985. This free update can be downloaded over-the-air from your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

More details are available over at RIM.

Research in Motion has just announced that they have teamed up with Telefonica in Spain. The two companies are testing out a NFC based payment system, known as the Telefonica Wallet for BlackBerry.

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Adobe is throwing its weight around today announcing a significant restructuring. Part of this restructure includes no longer updating its Flash plugin for mobile devices, which right now primarily is used on Android and RIM’s PlayBook platform.

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Today just brings in more bad news for RIM, something it desperately does not need.  As of the time of this post, RIMM shares are now below the $20 dollar mark, at $18.87 to be more precise.  The last time RIMM shares were at this price was 2004.   Veritas analyst Neeraj Monga told The Globe and Mail:

Clearly, it’s now single-digit market share in the United States — soon, I think it will be single-digit worldwide.

At $18.87 per share RIM is now below its book value of $18.92 at the end of last quarter, according to Bloomberg.  The iPhone and devices running Google Inc.’s Android operating system are obliterating RIM’s share in markets around the world. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., which uses Android, is now the No. 1 smart phone in Asia-Pacific, Western Europe and even Latin America, which is one of RIM’s strongest markets.

Lately, BlackBerry has been in the spotlight. Now, RIM has came up with a new wonder and has released the BBM Music app. It is available for download via the BlackBerry App World for the US, Canada, and Australia. More countries will be added soon.

The Department of Defense (DoD) has approved Dell’s Android-based Streak 5 tablet for use on its secure networks, Dell announced in a blog post.

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