from Yahoo business news

Here Come the AppleBerry Rumors

Since Apple's iPod became the must-have gadget of the decade, it seems as if each week now brings a fresh new rumor about the company's next big iPod-related development.


The latest round of speculation suggests that Apple and Research In Motion (RIM), maker of the wildly popular BlackBerry line, are partnering to bring the world an AppleBerry. Of course the device might also be called an iBerry, a BerryPod, or a MacBerry. Maybe not a Blapple, a PodBlack, or a Blipod, though.

The rumors were kicked off by Peter Misek, an analyst at Canaccord Capital. In a research note published last Friday, Misek wrote that Apple and RIM could join forces to develop and market a wireless device that is based on a combination of technologies used in RIM's BlackBerry and Apple's iPod.

Company Strengths

According to Misek, a deal between Apple and RIM would be advantageous for both companies because each makes up for what the other lacks.

RIM, a leader among business customers, has no real traction in the consumer market. Apple, meanwhile, is missing any sort of presence in the wireless devices market.

Trying to go it alone, Misek wrote, would mean both companies fighting a difficult battle against firmly entrenched mobile players such as Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson.

Were the two companies to come together to create a new device, Misek said, look for a mobile phone from Apple that would combine the iPod with RIM's wireless technology. Or, he said, look for an iTunes-enabled BlackBerry.

Neither Apple nor RIM responded to requests for comment on the potential joint venture.

Common Defense

"These are still rumors and I'd want to see some evidence of a RIM-Apple partnership before getting my hopes up," said Nitin Gupta, an analyst at Yankee Group.

But a partnership between Apple and RIM could make sense, he said. Gupta pointed out that the success both companies have found with the iPod and BlackBerry has left other companies struggling to come up with something that is able to rival them.

"Many of the companies that have the BlackBerry in their crosshairs are the same that are searching for the 'iPod killer' as well," Gupta said. "As industry giants, such as Microsoft and Nokia, continue to move in on Apple and RIM's territory, it may make sense for [Apple and RIM] to find synergies between their flagship product lines."