IBM considering purchase of RIM's enterprise business

IBM may be interested in picking up Research in Motion's (RIM) enterprise business division, according to Bloomberg.

The newswire claimed on Friday that IBM has made "informal approaches" to RIM with regard to purchasing the division, quoting two unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

If true, the purchase would see IBM gain control over the division that currently operates RIM's network of servers supporting BlackBerry email and messaging services for corporate customers.

A RIM spokesperson declined to confirm or deny the Bloomberg reports, telling V3 that "RIM does not comment on rumour and speculation", as did IBM.

The rumoured deal follows on from speculation that Korean tech giant Samsung was interested in purchasing RIM.

Rumours spread initially emerged earlier this year that Samsung was looking to purchase RIM, with numerous sources reporting that the two companies held secret meetings to discuss an acquisition in January.

The rumours reappeared this week when AllThingsD quoted a Jeffries analyst reporting that RIM was reopening talks to partner with Samsung.

Samsung has since dismissed the rumours, claiming it is not interested in purchasing or licensing BlackBerry from RIM.

The news comes just after RIM chief executive Thorsten Heins revealed that the company was open to outsourcing its delayed new BB10 operating system to other smartphone makers.