Samsung has ruled itself out as a potential buyer of BlackBerry maker RIM, although other Asian smartphone makers may be interested in acquiring the Canadian firm, reports Reuters.

A report on the Boy Genius Report blog cited sources that said RIM was looking to sell itself to the South Korean electronics giant. The report also suggested that RIM co-chief executive Jim Balsillie met with companies interested in licensing RIM software or buying part or all of the company.

However, Samsung denied it has an interest in acquiring the firm in a statement made to Reuters. Samsung spokesman James Chung said Samsung has not been approached by RIM and that the company is not interested in licensing the Canadian company’s BlackBerry mobile platform.

Despite Samsung’s denial, industry analysts suggested to Reuters that licensing BlackBerry software would be a good fit for Samsung with its strategy of boosting its software capability and adding corporate subscribers.

A source at a major Asian handset maker told Reuters that the likes of LG, HTC and ZTE – none of which have their own mobile platforms – could also be interested in acquiring RIM or licensing its technology.

RIM has recently suffered from falling sales, profit warnings and product delays, all of which have impacted investor confidence, leading to the company’s shares hitting a seven-year low in November.

Reuters notes that RIM shares rose by more than 10 percent in response to the blog report before falling following Samsung’s denial. Media reports in December 2011 suggested Amazon, Microsoft and Nokia had all sounded out RIM about the possibility of a takeover.