SLOUGH, UK: Research in Motion (RIM), the company behind the Blackberry smartphone, is reviewing UK B2B and tech PR duties, the Holmes Report has learned.

It is understood that as many as six agencies are pitching for the business – worth an estimated £250,000 – this week.

Hotwire has handled the business across the UK and Europe for the past seven years, and is understood to be defending the brief.

Last summer, the Holmes Report learned that RIM had held meetings with at least three UK PR agencies, although it is not believed that the current pitch began at that point.

“They weren’t that happy then and they just decided it was prudent to look around,” said a source familiar with the situation. “Now they have decided to put it out to pitch.”

Frank PR handles RIM’s consumer PR in the UK, while Edelman works on digital and social media. Neither of these briefs are believed to be affected.

Blackberry remains the UK’s biggest smartphone vendor, with market share of more than 28 percent, according to market research company GfK. However, the company’s media profile has been affected by the rapid rise of Apple’s iPhone and Android handset competitors. A RIM spokesman declined to comment.