Report: Lenovo hints at RIM bid

PC maker's finance chief suggests it will look at buyout or partnership with 'RIM and many others'

Lenovo has hinted it could make an acquisition or agree a strategic tie-up in the mobile space, with RIM namechecked as a potential target.

A Bloomberg article reports on an interview with Lenovo chief financial officer Wong Wai Ming given at the World Economic Forum, currently taking place in Davos, Switzerland. The PC firm's finance chief hinted that his company would consider splashing the cash to boost its smartphone proposition.

"We are looking at all opportunities: RIM and many others," he said. "We will have no hesitation if the right opportunity comes along that could benefit us and shareholders."

The Chinese vendor has already made some headway in the smartphone space since entering the market three years ago. In its homeland it is widely tipped to become the number-one handset maker this year.

The firm has also seen its star rise in its core PC market over the past couple of years, so much so that it snatched HP's crown as the world's leading manufacturer in Q3 2012.

Meanwhile RIM's fortunes have been going the other way, as its share of the phone market has slumped, its management has been overhauled and its PlayBook tablet was something of a flop. All eyes will be on the Canadian manufacturer next week, as it is expected to launch a duo of new BlackBerry devices.