Interesting

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) recently approached BlackBerry Ltd (BBRY.O) (BB.TO) about buying the smartphone maker for as much as $7.5 billion in a play for its patent portfolio, according to a person familiar with the matter and documents seen by Reuters.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/...0KN2FW20150114

Yep looks like it's all about the patents. Blackberry has a truckload. Once they've been stripped Blackberry can be sold on again for far, far less.

Without the patents I doubt anyone would buy Blackberry the brand isn't worth anything any more it used be few years back but they have driven it into the ground.

Their patents and BBM are pretty much all BlackBerry have left. I think £1 for the company would be quite generous

"BlackBerry has not engaged in discussions with Samsung with respect to any possible offer to purchase BlackBerry," BlackBerry said in a statement.


So looks like they are denying It.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/01...s_for_patents/

Even BBM is available on Android. I thought they really shot themselves in the foot doing that.

BBM an asset? I don't think so. This isn’t 2008.

BlackBerry is still a force for business. Samsung could use the BlackBerry name for a range of phones (maybe running Tizen) aimed at the business user. The Samsung BlackBerry instead of the Samsung Galaxy.

I like Blackberry for its keyboard.
And I keep getting told no one wants BB's any more, well I DO - but try buying one!

None of the stores have any on display.
I want one and can't get one, so how can they say people don't want them when they aren't given the choice to even look at one or handle one?
How can they say that people browsing and undecided about what phone they want might not choose a BB if they saw one?

My current contract is with Vodafone and I can upgrade my BB handset next month.
I would like to look at the Blackberry Classic and the Blackberry Passport but can't.
Vodafone say I can order one online and if I don't want it, I can return it in 14 days.
I would like to go and look at them in the stores just like I can any other phone before I select.
But I am denied this privilege.

If Samsung buying BB out means stores will actually start stocking them again I will be happy.

I guess the issue is stores will tend to stock what sells at acceptable levels. Sadly, the Blackberry has become a niche product and sales have been plummeting since 2010. Not even sure what their market share is at the moment. But I suspect it's not at a level that's any way sustainable.

Dont know where you live but you can have a look at Blackberries in Selfridges in London. They might also have sales teams in other Selfridge stores. I had a look at the passport and will be looking at the new classic this week. I agree, I want one but it seems Blackberry have a very poor sales strategy.

As of Q3 2014 0.7% of smartphone sales.

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/...ackberry-slide