Report: IBM shows interest in Research in Motion unit

IBM Corp. may be interested in acquiring the enterprise-services unit of struggling cell phone manufacturer Research In Motion Ltd., according to a report by Bloomberg News.

Sources told Bloomberg that the Armonk-based IBM made an informal inquiry about potentially acquiring the division, which operates a collection of secure servers used to support RIM”™s BlackBerry devices.

Formal discussions have not yet been held, the source told Bloomberg.

Spokesmen for both companies declined comment to Bloomberg.

According to analysts, RIM”™s enterprise-services unit could be worth between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion.