RIM Announces Layoffs - Sign Of Bigger Changes?

After a string of positive licensing deals last week, RIM is trimming its staff by 10%. The official line is that they are reducing headcount to meet financial targets. While we're sure that is a big part of it, the timing makes us wonder if this is a sign of bigger changes at RIM. Streamlining operations could also be part of a shift in business model. As the recent deals with Palm, Handspring and Nokia reveal anyone can make a RIM-like device. But the server software is much harder to replicate. Only time will tell if RIM will still be in the hardware business in the future.