According to a new Sunday Times report, Canada-based BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion (RIM) is mulling a move that will split its business in two --- with the company's struggling handset manufacturing unit to be separated from its messaging network.

With making any mention of the sources behind its report, The Sunday Times said that RIM - which hired JP Morgan and RBC Capital in May to ascertain its strategic options - will probably either sell its handset unit or break it off into a separate listed company.

The newspaper report also revealed that the potential buyers for the RIM handset unit would likely include Amazon and Facebook. The report also added that there was also a possibility that the RIM messaging network is either sold or opened up to competitors like Apple and Google, in order to help generate income for RIM.

In fact, as per the report, another alternative option for RIM will likely be to keep the company together, but selling off a stake to a bigger technology firm like software giant Microsoft.

Meanwhile, though the Sunday Times' unsubstantiated report highlighted a number of possibilities which apparently are being considered by RIM, the company's CEO Thorsten Heins said in a recent emailed statement that the best way - which still "remains true" - for the company to drive value for stakeholders would be to carry out on an effective turnaround plan.