Who, Us? Save Research in Motion? NO CHANCE!

Samsung will not acquire Research in Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM) or license the BlackBerry maker’s new mobile operating system, the South Korean electronics company said on Thursday.

Don’t Miss: Why is Apple SLASHING iPhone Prices?

Lack of support from potential partners like Samsung could spell more trouble for RIM, which is seeking options to help turn around its embattled business. RIM shares were up Wednesday on a rumor that Samsung might license the BlackBerry 10 system, but will now tumble as another potential safety net falls through, leaving RIM with fewer options.

Samsung is currently the biggest seller of smartphones running on Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android operating system, but also makes phones using Microsoft’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows mobile OS, as well as its proprietary software, bada.

Because Samsung has a history of making phones with multiple platforms, when an influential analyst hinted that Samsung may consider licensing RIM’s BlackBerry 10 software, investors were inclined to believe salvation was in sight. Afterall, another smartphone platform could help Samsung extend its lead over rivals like Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) while diversifying away from Google, which, as it forays more and more into hardware, may eventually attach some more difficult to contend with strings to licensing its Android OS.

RIM’s BlackBerry 10 operating system, which will run the next generation of BlackBerrys expected to launch early next year, is considered to be the company’s last hope of reversing the BlackBerry’s steady decline in market share since Apple and Google came on the scene.

Don’t Miss: Is Apple Planning Something BIG?