Sprint Launches BlackBerry® on the Enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network
November 16, 2004
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., and WATERLOO, ON - Sprint (NYSE: FON) and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the launch of the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution™ on the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network. Business customers can manage their information and communications on the go with the Sprint PCS Smart Device – BlackBerry® 7750.
The BlackBerry Enterprise Solution™ is now being sold by Sprint through its business sales channels. The availability of BlackBerry® is a significant addition to Sprint’s remote-access offering and underscores the company’s commitment to expand its capabilities and product offering in the high-growth wireless business market.
“Sprint is redefining the environment for remote networking and mobility,” said Tim Donahue, vice president – Enterprise Marketing, Sprint Business Solutions. “BlackBerry is a powerful and popular solution for business customers, and its availability on the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network allows Sprint to offer an unmatched suite of wireless email options and serve the needs of business customers regardless of size, security requirements, management control needs or compatibility issues.”
The BlackBerry Enterprise Solution™ provides a secure wireless extension to the user’s corporate email system and access to other supported business applications. BlackBerry Enterprise Server™ supports Microsoft® Exchange, IBM Lotus® Domino™ (Novell GroupWise support is expected later this year) and other enterprise systems to enable secure wireless access to email and other corporate data. Users can utilize the Sprint PCS Smart Device – BlackBerry® 7750 to send and receive corporate email and text messages, access corporate data, manage appointments, browse the Web and make voice calls.
“Wireless access to email and corporate data is becoming a standard requirement for businesses of all sizes today because of its ability to improve communications, productivity and workflow,” said Mark Guibert, vice president, Corporate Marketing at Research In Motion. “We are pleased to work with Sprint to provide business customers with a comprehensive platform that offers industry-leading usability, security, manageability and flexibility.”
About Sprint
Sprint is a global integrated communications provider serving more than 26 million customers in over 100 countries. With more than $26 billion in annual revenues in 2003, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state-of-the-art network technologies, including the United States’ first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network and an award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint provides local communications services in 39 states and the District of Columbia and operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.
About Research In Motion (RIM)
Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services with wireless connectivity to data. RIM's portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry® wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld™ product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.
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