BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM) is preparing for a major restructuring beginning in the next couple of weeks that will see it eliminate at least 2,000 jobs worldwide, the Globe and Mail reported yesterday.

The Canadian newspaper, citing several people close to the company, reported that the next round is layoffs is said to be planned for around June 1 - a day before the BlackBerry smartphone maker's first quarter ends - but some expect the announcement even earlier.

One source close to the company said the impending layoffs could hit as many as 6,000 people and affect legal, marketing, sales, operations, and HR operations.

'The strategic question is: are you accelerating into a better future or shrinking to a niche operation,' said the source.

A RIM spokeswoman contacted declined to comment.

But she pointed to comments that new chief executive Thorsten Heins and chief financial officer Brian Bidulka made on RIM's last earnings call about plans to streamline operations and save $1 billion in the fiscal year.

RIM reported a fourth-quarter loss in March, when the new CEO announced the initial steps in a strategic overhaul. Heins took over from longtime co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie in January.

Once the dominant player in the wireless e-mail sector, RIM has lost market share due to fierce competition from Apple's iPhone and phones running on Google's Android software.-Reuters