Online retailer Amazon.com was interested in acquiring BlackBerry manufacturer Research In Motion earlier this year, according to press reports. The Reuters news agency is quoted as saying Amazon hired an investment bank in the summer to review a potential merger but did not make a formal offer.
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal says Microsoft and Nokia had discussed making a joint bid for RIM. It also said RIM has approached Samsung and HTC about licensing its forthcoming BlackBerry 10 operating system.
[Sources: Reuters.com; guardian.co.uk; WSJ.com]