Breakthrough BlackBerry Smartphone Is Coming to Nation's Fastest 3G
Network; Arrives in Stores Nov. 4
DALLAS and WATERLOO, Ontario, Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T
customers will be entering a bold new wireless world with the launch of the
BlackBerry(R) Bold(TM), a breakthrough 3G BlackBerry(R) smartphone that
operates on the nation's fastest 3G network and is the first to support
HSDPA networks around the world, including in Japan and Korea. AT&T Inc.
(NYSE: T) and Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) announced today
that the highly anticipated BlackBerry Bold smartphone will be available in
the United States for as low as $299.99(1) on Tuesday, Nov. 4, in AT&T
retail stores nationwide, through http://www.att.com and select national
retailers, as well as through AT&T's business-to-business sales teams.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081022/AQW095)
The BlackBerry Bold smartphone, which is being introduced in the United
States only for AT&T customers, can be used in the most countries abroad,
including more than 60 with 3G networks. AT&T is the world's leading
provider of BlackBerry services.
Bold Design
The BlackBerry Bold smartphone's design and performance live up to its
name. The elegant smartphone features a lustrous black exterior, satin
chrome-finished frame and stylish, leatherette backplate with a stunning
half-VGA (480 x 320 at 217 ppi) color display for eye-popping visuals and a
newly designed full QWERTY keyboard for exceptionally fast and easy typing.
On the inside, the BlackBerry Bold features built-in GPS and Wi-Fi(R), a
powerful new 624 MHz mobile processor that provides impressive performance,
more storage memory than ever before -- 1 GB on board and up to 16 GB via
its microSD/SDHC expansion slot -- and a rich set of multimedia
capabilities, including an advanced media player for music, videos and
photos and a 2 megapixel camera with built-in flash, zoom and video
recording, as well as an optimized Web-browsing experience with
desktop-style depiction.
"The BlackBerry Bold is the best BlackBerry smartphone ever, backed by
the nation's fastest 3G network and the hands-down best international
coverage of any carrier," said Ralph de la Vega, president and chief
executive officer of AT&T Mobility. "The BlackBerry Bold is the complete
package, providing customers with an absolutely outstanding mobile
experience whether doing e-mail, browsing the Web, viewing streaming video
or simply making a phone call. And it is being introduced in the U.S. only
from AT&T."
Mike Lazaridis, president and co-CEO at Research In Motion, said: "The
development of the BlackBerry Bold smartphone was an ambitious undertaking,
and we focused intensely on the things that are most important to mobile
customers when developing this best-in-class smartphone for HSDPA networks
around the world. The BlackBerry Bold exudes quality in everything from its
stunning display sharpness and incredible keyboard to its premium phone
performance and sophisticated software applications. It provides an
extraordinary mobile communications and multimedia experience, and we are
very proud to introduce this breakthrough smartphone in the United States
together with AT&T."
AT&T Services
In addition to the renowned BlackBerry productivity applications --
including phone, e-mail, messaging, organizer and browser -- the BlackBerry
Bold from AT&T will boast such AT&T services as:
-- Simultaneous Voice and Data Capabilities -- When connected to AT&T's
3G network, customers can conduct a phone conversation and at the same time
check e-mail, browse the Web or use another data application, including
when tethered to a notebook computer.
-- AT&T Navigator Global Edition -- Powered by TeleNav, the only
GPS-based service available from a U.S. wireless carrier to provide
international navigation capabilities. AT&T customers can get spoken or
text-based turn-by- turn directions with automatic missed turn rerouting
and a local business finder service in 20 countries.
-- Seamless Wi-Fi -- Allows AT&T customers who turn on the BlackBerry
Bold smartphone's Wi-Fi feature -- 802.11 a/b/g -- to connect automatically
to home or campus networks. AT&T customers also will be able to access more
than 17,000 AT&T hot spots nationwide, including nearly 7,000 participating
Starbucks locations plus thousands more restaurants, airports, hotels and
other convenient locations across the U.S.
-- CV -- CV (Cellular Video) from AT&T gives viewers access to
thousands of video clips -- news, sports, weather, entertainment and more
-- directly on a BlackBerry Bold smartphone via streaming video.
-- AT&T Mobile Music Services -- An industry leader in mobile music,
AT&T boasts the largest catalog of offerings available today, giving
customers mobile access to enjoy XM Radio Mobile(TM), song identification
through MusicID, music videos through MobiTV and over-the-air access to the
extensive music databases of Napster Mobile(R) and eMusic(R) -- just to
name a few.
AT&T Navigator, CV, AT&T Mobile Music services and more than 90,000
additional choices are available through AT&T MEdia Mall directly from the
BlackBerry Bold or online.
E-mail and More
Like all BlackBerry smartphones, the BlackBerry Bold gives users the
industry's leading mobile messaging solution. It works with BlackBerry(R)
Enterprise Server, which enables advanced security and IT administration
within IBM(R) Lotus(R) Domino(R), Microsoft(R) Exchange and Novel(R)
GroupWise(R) environments, as well as BlackBerry(R) Professional Software
for small businesses. It also works with BlackBerry(R) Internet Service,
which gives users push-based access to as many as 10 supported work or
personal e-mail accounts. Customers can also download and edit Microsoft(R)
Word, Excel and PowerPoint files using the preloaded DataViz(R) Documents
to Go(R) software suite. Beyond e-mail, the BlackBerry Bold will support a
wide range of business and lifestyle applications.
The BlackBerry Bold smartphone includes Bluetooth(R) 2.0, which
provides support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits and
other Bluetooth peripherals. The included BlackBerry(R) Desktop Manager
software comes with Roxio(R) Media Manager for BlackBerry, which includes
new features that make it easier to organize multimedia content as well as
manage music, videos and recorded Voice Notes between a computer and the
smartphone. It also optimizes video files for smooth full-screen playback
on the BlackBerry Bold smartphone's large display with support for
full-screen and widescreen formats.
Roxio Photosuite 9 LE is included, allowing customers to easily enhance
pictures and create photo albums on their computer. In addition, the new
BlackBerry(R) Media Sync application allows customers to sync their
iTunes(R) digital musical collections(2) with the handset. The BlackBerry
Bold also boasts a new acoustic design for enhanced phone listening quality
and clarity and numerous premium phone features, including Speaker
Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD).
AT&T Backed
Backing the BlackBerry Bold smartphone will be AT&T's 3G
BroadbandConnect network, which currently is available in more than 320
major metropolitan areas in the U.S. and, by year-end, AT&T expects to
offer the service in nearly 350 leading U.S. markets. In addition to 3G
connectivity, the BlackBerry Bold is also designed to connect seamlessly
with AT&T's nationwide(3) EDGE network, which is available in more than
13,000 cities and towns and along some 40,000 miles of major highways.
For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit http://www.att.com.
(1) With two-year contract and qualified voice and data plans. Other
conditions may apply.
(2) Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain
digital rights management technologies.
(3) Not available in all areas.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its
subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of
AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their
offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications
services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and
voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory
publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and
YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators
in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen
integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. In
2008, AT&T again ranked No. 1 on Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired
Telecommunications Company list and No. 1 on America's Most Admired
Telecommunications Company list. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and
the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is
available at http://www.att.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(R) wireless platform, the RIM
Wireless Handheld(TM) 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 http://www.rim.com or http://www.blackberry.com.
Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to
the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used herein, words such as "intend" and
similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Forward- looking statements are based on assumptions made by and
information available to Research In Motion Limited. Investors are
cautioned that such forward- looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements include, without limitation, possible product defects and
product liability, risks related to international sales and potential
foreign currency exchange fluctuations, the initiation or outcome of
litigation, acts or potential acts of terrorism, international conflicts,
significant fluctuations of quarterly operating results, changes in
Canadian and foreign laws and regulations, continued acceptance of RIM's
products, increased levels of competition, technological changes and the
successful development of new products, dependence on third-party networks
to provide services, dependence on intellectual property rights, and other
risks and factors detailed from time to time in RIM's periodic reports
filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and other
regulatory authorities. RIM has no intention or obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols
are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.
RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries.
Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. All other brands,
product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the
properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no obligations or
liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee
in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.
(C) 2008 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the
AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T
Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks
contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
Note: This AT&T news release and other announcements are available as
part of an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss. For more information and
detailed disclaimer information, please review this announcement in the
AT&T newsroom at http://www.att.com/newsroom.
SOURCE AT&T Inc.
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Related links: http://www.att.com http://www.rim.com
Photo Notes: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081022/AQW095 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN10 PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT: John Kampfe of AT&T Inc., office, +1-732-420-9035, mobile, +1-908-432-3473, john.kampfe@att.com; or Marisa Conway of Brodeur Partners, +1-212-515-1924, mconway@brodeur.com, for RIM
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