Microsoft may be getting iPhone envy. Bill Gates and the boys apparently have their eyes on the makers of popular business smartphone Blackberry. Today Frederic Ruffy, an analyst at options education firm Optionetics in California raised eyebrows when he stated:

"Microsoft has been mentioned as a possible buyer (of Research in Motion)" and added "According to speculation, the software giant might be interested in RIM in response to Google's recent announcement that it is interested in making its own mobile phone operating system, which would compete with Windows Mobile,"

Blackberry has been a staple for years for business and government officials. RIM has started to branch out with more entertainment options with their new product the Blackberry Curve. A Microsoft & Research and Motion would makes a lot of sense and will be interesting to see if it actually happens.

Should Microsoft acquire RIM, it would reportedly be a preemptive move to fend off a rumored Google mobile OS that could pose a direct threat to Windows Mobile on cell phones.

So far, the claim hasn't yet been confirmed, however, a takeover of RIM by Microsoft would help consolidate Micrsoft's share of the smartphone business. Microsoft would thus own both hardware and software, in contrast to their historical approach of licensing WIndows Mobile to multiple handset makers. While Microsoft has dominated in the computer market, they've lagged behind the likes of BlackBerry and the Symbian OS used by other handset makers. A take-over would surely give them a bigger piece of the mobile market that they've been trying to capture.