Microsoft announces intention to acquire RIM by June 30, 2010?

Microsoft's mobile offerings are struggling. The company's mobile operating system, Windows Mobile, has been left behind amidst a slew of new competitors and robust application platforms. Device buzz has built around the iPhone, Droid, Pre, and new BlackBerry models, none of which run Windows Mobile. And the company's Danger subsidiary suffered an embarrassing cloud outage that resulted in an estimated one million mobile users losing access to their contacts and calendars for days.

What could right Microsoft's mobile stragegy? A New York investment banker has an intriguing proposal: The company should buy Research in Motion, the company behind the sprawling BlackBerry empire. He writes:

The price for RIM would likely top $40 billion, but at least Microsoft would own a market-leading company with plenty of juice left, not to mention a product that an awful lot of adults would sooner die than live without. If Microsoft can deeply and seamlessly integrate new BlackBerries into Windows and Office, Chairman Steve (Ballmer, that is) will see a million apps bloom. Not only will this trip up Apple's designs on enterprise-wide iPhone sales, it will pull Apple-like crowds into Microsoft's new retail outlets. That would be something to yodel about.

On the other hand, this idea has been floating around for some time (see our prediction from 2008) yet has not panned out. Further, Microsoft is also working on a new version of Windows Mobile, which apparently won't be released until well into 2010.

Prediction: Microsoft publicly announces its intention to acquire Research In Motion on or before June 30, 2010.

Image: BlackBerry Curve keyboard (VentureBeat)