Column: 7 reasons Microsoft should buy BlackBerry

The Canadian insurance and investment company Fairfax Financial Holdings has offered to buy BlackBerry. Here's why Microsoft should swoop in instead.

Earlier this month, the fallen emperor of the tech world, Microsoft announced that it would be acquiring another former market leader, Nokia.

As Nokia is the leading manufacturer of Windows Phones, the deal has been seen as an effort to increase Microsoft's share of the smartphone market. Now, a great many voices are making their cases for Microsoft to acquire another troubled smartphone company, BlackBerry.

Yes, the Canadian billionaire investor Prem Watsa's insurance and investment company Fairfax Financial Holdings has already announced its intent to acquire the former leader of the smartphone market for $9 per share.

However, a cash-rich company like Microsoft could probably throw a wrench in that process and make its own offer.