Research In Motion refuses to budge in its pursuit of Nortel Networks’ wireless business because within it are key patents that could help secure RIM’s future as a mobile phone technology leader, industry observers say.
Veritas Investment Research analyst Neeraj Monga says the BlackBerry maker is hoping Nortel technology can patch up some of its weaker points and prepare it for fourth-generation wireless networks.
“The fact is, RIM appears to have among the weaker intellectual property positions in the industry,” said Monga. “Essential patents tend to have more value because everybody and their business needs them to make their products work.”
Monga suggested that’s why RIM dove head-first into what has turned out to be a messy public war of words with Nortel.
Within Nortel’s wireless division is the Long Term Evolution Access business, using a wireless standard that’s gaining acceptance in the market and would include patents useful for future development.
