Nation's Largest Wireless Carrier Brings to Market Feature-Rich BlackBerry
Pearl with Push to Talk, GPS-based Navigation Services
ATLANTA and WATERLOO, Ontario, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The new
BlackBerry(R) Pearl(TM) from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM) (TSX:
RIM) will arrive on the shelves of select Cingular Wireless stores
beginning tomorrow - just in time for the holiday shopping season - with an
exclusive look and new features, including Cingular-exclusive Push to Talk
(PTT) capabilities and a GPS-based wireless navigation(1) service.
Customers can now enjoy the benefits of these new features for the
BlackBerry Pearl together with easy-to-use phone, email, organizer and
browser applications - all in an incredibly small, light and stylish
handset.
The BlackBerry Pearl from Cingular operates on the nation's largest
digital voice network - with the fewest dropped calls of any national
wireless carrier - and Cingular's nationwide(2) EDGE network, the largest
national high-speed wireless data network in the U.S.
The BlackBerry Pearl is the first BlackBerry handset to come with a
digital camera, multi-media capabilities and an expandable memory slot,
while continuing to provide the full BlackBerry experience that is widely
popular throughout the world. Beneath its sleek and stylish exterior, which
measures just 4.2" x 1.97" x .57" and weighs only 3.1 ounces, the
BlackBerry Pearl from Cingular is a quad-band GSM/GPRS and EDGE-enabled
mobile application powerhouse delivering the fast performance of the latest
generation BlackBerry handset platform. The built-in 64MB flash memory is
now expandable with a microSD card, giving users plenty more storage for
music, pictures and videos.
"The BlackBerry Pearl from Cingular provides a winning combination of
business and entertainment-related applications that make it a great device
both for work-time and leisure-time use," said Jeff Bradley, vice
president, business data services, for Cingular Wireless. "The iconic yet
highly functional design, popular BlackBerry service, and rich music and
video features coupled with our Cingular-exclusive capabilities make this a
powerful offering that will play well equally in the enterprise and
consumer spaces."
"The BlackBerry Pearl is a breakthrough handset that looks as great as
it performs. We believe this amazing new phone will attract an even broader
range of mobile customers toward BlackBerry and we are delighted to be
launching the BlackBerry Pearl with Cingular today," said Mike Lazaridis,
President and Co- CEO at Research In Motion. "The BlackBerry Pearl is truly
changing the mobile communications landscape by delivering the unparalleled
BlackBerry experience that has become so popular around the world together
with new multimedia features and Cingular's powerful Push to Talk service -
all in an exceptionally small, sleek and stylish design."
Cingular-exclusive Features
Unique features of the BlackBerry Pearl from Cingular include
Cingular's Push to Talk service and the availability of TeleNav GPS
Navigator(TM) for turn-by-turn driving directions.
Cingular boasts the largest Push to Talk network in America and its PTT
service includes several differentiating features, including "availability"
icons, quick group calling and the ability to easily switch a PTT session
to a regular wireless voice call. BlackBerry Pearl customers can use the
Cingular Push to Talk service to stay connected with individual colleagues
or friends, or set up groups for broader communication. The PTT button on
the left side of the BlackBerry Pearl easily facilitates each PTT call. In
addition, the Cingular service offers standard PTT features such as call
waiting, contact alerts, and voice messaging to anyone in their contact
list.
Cingular customers can receive GPS turn-by-turn voice and on-screen
driving directions on the BlackBerry Pearl with TeleNav GPS Navigator(TM)
(Bluetooth GPS Receiver accessory required). TeleNav GPS Navigator can be
used in vehicles or while walking and offers colorful 3D moving maps. Just
like an in-car navigation system, the 3D maps turn, move and stop as the
vehicle does the same, while also displaying a realistic image of the
streets the vehicle is approaching and streets they are passing. Users can
also pan and zoom the map to view surrounding streets. Other features
include Biz Finder, allowing users to look up a business or place of
interest, and Fuel Finder, providing nearby locations with the lowest gas
prices.
The BlackBerry Pearl from Cingular is also the first wireless device in
the U.S. to include TeleNav Maps(TM), a free application providing access
to non-GPS static maps and step-by-step written driving directions.
Exceptional Phone Quality
The BlackBerry Pearl delivers exceptional phone quality with premium,
easy-to-use phone features including Speaker Independent Voice Recognition
for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD), support for polyphonic, mp3 and MIDI
ring tones, and intuitive call management features such as smart dialing,
conference calling, speed dialing and call forwarding. It also features a
speakerphone and Bluetooth(R) 2.0 for use with hands-free headsets and car
kits. BlackBerry Desktop Manager synchronization via Bluetooth is also
supported.
The unique "push-based" BlackBerry service features a helpful Setup
Wizard and gives users synchronized access to both personal and corporate
email accounts with attachment viewing and the ability to manage multiple
accounts while on the go. The BlackBerry Pearl also comes with an enhanced
version of RIM's SureType(TM) QWERTY keypad technology that makes typing
messages and dialing phone numbers quick and easy. The handset is supported
on BlackBerry(R) Internet Service as well as BlackBerry(R) Enterprise
Server, with a new set of IT policy controls on the latter to allow IT
departments to manage camera and expansion memory usage per their corporate
policies.
Images appear incredibly vivid and crisp on the BlackBerry Pearl's
large, ultra-bright, high resolution (240 x 260) display. Built-in
light-sensing technology automatically adjusts the screen and keypad
brightness for optimum viewing in outdoor, indoor or dark environments.
Along with an intuitive Cingular-exclusive user interface, the BlackBerry
Pearl also features a supple, responsive trackball that makes vertical and
lateral scrolling fast and easy. Dedicated "menu" and "escape" keys on
either side of the trackball, along with context sensitive menus, make
navigation instinctive, smooth and true to the BlackBerry experience.
Camera, Music, Video
Featuring a 1.3 megapixel camera with built-in flash and 5x digital
zoom, users can snap a picture and instantly share it with friends and
family by email(3), MMS or BlackBerry Messenger. Photos can also be set as
caller ID images, and can be easily transferred between the handset and a
computer using the included USB cable.
The BlackBerry Pearl comes with a media player and includes a stereo
headset jack, so users can enjoy their favorite music and videos on the go.
Music and video clips are delivered with rich sound and vivid color and can
be easily loaded onto the handset via a new version of the BlackBerry
Desktop Manager that is included on a CD in the box. MP3 and ACC music
files and MPEG4 and H.263 video files are supported.
With the BlackBerry Pearl from Cingular, users can wirelessly access
their email and other data, and browse the Web in more than 13,000 cities
and towns, and along some 40,000 miles of major highways throughout the
U.S. They can also take their BlackBerry Pearl with them when traveling
abroad to make phone calls in more than 190 countries and access data in
over 115 countries worldwide(4).
Pricing and Availability
The BlackBerry Pearl from Cingular is available for as low as $199.99
with a two-year commitment and after rebates, beginning tomorrow in select
Cingular retail stores, on http://www.cingular.com and through Cingular's
B2B sales organization, and in most Cingular stores nationwide by Monday,
December 4. Unlimited corporate email access via BlackBerry is as low as
$44.99 a month with a voice contract, or customers who simply need personal
email access and web browsing with BlackBerry(R) Internet Service can
choose the BlackBerry Personal plan for as low as $29.99 per month with
voice. Unlimited Cingular Push to Talk service is available for an
additional monthly charge of $9.99 per device and $19.99 for Push to Talk
Family. TeleNav GPS Navigator is available for additional monthly charges
of $5.99 for 10 trips and $9.99 for unlimited trips.
For more information, please go to
http://www.cingular.com/blackberrypearl.
About Cingular Wireless
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States,
serving 58.7 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture of AT&T Inc.
(NYSE: T) and BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital
voice and data network in the nation -- the ALLOVER(TM) network -- and the
largest mobile-to-mobile community of any national wireless carrier.
Cingular is a leader in third generation wireless technology. Its 3G
network is the first widely available service in the world to use HSDPA
(High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology. Cingular is the only U.S.
wireless carrier to offer Rollover(r), the wireless plan that lets
customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are
available at http://www.cingular.com/. Get Cingular Wireless press releases
emailed to you automatically. Sign up at http://cingular.mediaroom.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.
(1) Optional Bluetooth-enabled GPS receiver must be purchased
separately.
(2) Not available in all areas.
(3) Requires minimum versions of BlackBerry Internet Service or
BlackBerry Enterprise Server software. Check with Cingular Wireless or IT
administrator for availability.
(4) Check with Cingular Wireless for roaming services.
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. The Company 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.
All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service
marks are the properties of their respective owners. RIM assumes no
liability and makes no representation, warranty or guarantee in relation to
third party products or services.
SOURCE Cingular Wireless
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Related links:
http://www.cingular.com
http://cingular.mediaroom.com http://www.blackberry.com
http://www.rim.com/
CONTACT:
Media Contacts: John Kampfe of Cingular
Wireless, +1-973-637-9387, or John.kampfe@cingular.com, or Marisa
Conway, of Brodeur (for RIM) +1-212-771-3639, or
mconway@brodeur.com; Investor Contact: RIM Investor Relations,
+1-519-888-7465, or investor_relations@rim.com
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