RIM releases games platform amid asset sale speculation, as $US147 million patent verdict overturned

Embattled BlackBerry maker Research in Motion has released a new cross-platform games framework amidst speculation the company is looking to offload assets, while a potentially financially crippling patent verdict against the company has been overturned.

Despite a series of delays for its next-generation BlackBerry 10 platform, RIM has announced the release of a new computer game framework, called GamePlay, that will allow developers to use the same code to develop games for mobile devices and desktop PCs, supporting Windows 7, Mac OS X, iOS, BlackBerry 10 and PlayBook 2 devices.

RIM announced the new game platform as reports revealed IBM has made an informal offer to buy the company’s BlackBerry enterprise messaging system. Back in June, it emerged that the separation of the company’s hardware and enterprise messaging businesses is one option being examined as part of a major strategic review within the company.

News of IBM’s interest in the company’s enterprise messaging business came as Samsung issued a press statement announcing that it is not interested in purchasing RIM’s hardware business or its BlackBerry 10 platform, after renewed speculation linked the Korean electronics giant to a potential sale of RIM’s hardware business.

Meanwhile, Reuters reports that RIM is also looking to offload its NewBay cloud storage and services division as part of its ongoing strategic review, which the company purchased in November 2011 for around $US100 million.

Finally, in a rare piece of good news for RIM, TheNextWeb reports that RIM has succeeded in overturning a verdict ordering the company to pay $US147 million in damages to Mformation as a result of a recent patent violation lawsuit. The original verdict was a major blow to the already fiscally challenged Canadian smartphone maker.