Leading off today’s Mobile News, we have some smartphone manufacturers slowing their release schedules and an update on RIM’s possible sales, that yes-no-maybe-no comment scenario that has been tossed across headlines for weeks.

First, though, that release schedule change we mentioned….

Four Manufacturers to Slow Smartphone Releases

Apple has had a slower mobile phone release schedule than most manufacturers have marked. However, four well-known names are adopting the concept to their own smartphone lines in 2012.

HTC, Motorola, RIM and Sony have all announced they are taking themselves out of the rabbit race and adopting a slower-but-better tortoise pace this year.

Hoping to increase market shares with high-impact quality and innovation instead of the one-flagship-plus-lots methods they have used in recent years.

Whilst none of the manufacturers state in DigiTime’s piece that they will stop all other models, expect far less than a flood from these top-tier mobile phone makers in 2012.

RIM Seeks Sale Advice from GS

RIM, the Canadian firm known for its BlackBerry smartphones and mobile tablets, experienced a very rough year in 2011. From declining sales to lowered stock prices to stock theft, 2011 was not a kind year to Research In Motion, which led to rumours and speculation of sales and mergers running rampant for many weeks.

RIM reportedly just hired Goldman Sachs to advise the company on a possible sale. The outside firm would evaluate the offers RIM has received and advise on the best offers already in house or that may arrive.

Stock prices for RIM escalated as a result of the rumour alone, although there is no indication of how many offers RIM has actually received or who the bidders may be.

How much RIM is paying the investment bank for their advisory role or to what extent that role may parlay itself is, alas, also unknown.