New Global Handset Complements and Extends AT&T's Industry-Leading
International Wireless Reach With Both Cellular and 802.11 Features
SAN ANTONIO, and WATERLOO, Ontario, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Wi-Fi(R) is coming to AT&T's BlackBerry(R) handset customers. AT&T Inc.
(NYSE: T) and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) have
announced that the first cellular and Wi-Fi BlackBerry handset -- the
BlackBerry 8820 -- will be available beginning Sept. 20 through the
nation's largest wireless provider.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070919/AQW029)
The global Wi-Fi capabilities of the BlackBerry 8820 from AT&T
complement AT&T's industry-best domestic and international wide area
wireless data coverage. AT&T enterprise customers can use the BlackBerry
8820 with their corporate campus Wi-Fi networks for additional data
coverage. Individual customers can use it in their homes and, for an
additional charge, at thousands of Wi-Fi locations* throughout the U.S.,
including any of the 10,000 AT&T-owned or branded hot spot locations in the
U.S. Users can also take advantage of tens of thousands of hot spots around
the globe through such services as AT&T Wi-Fi roaming.
AT&T is the leading provider of BlackBerry services worldwide and
boasts the broadest domestic and international coverage area for wireless
data services of any U.S. carrier. The BlackBerry 8820 is powered by AT&T's
nationwide** EDGE network, the largest high speed national wireless data
network in the U.S., with availability in more than 13,000 cities and towns
and along some 40,000 miles of major highways. The quadband BlackBerry 8820
from AT&T keeps users who are abroad connected with wireless e-mail,
Internet access and other mobile applications through data services in more
countries -- more than 135 -- than any other U.S. carrier. Customers can
also use the BlackBerry 8820 to make or receive wireless phone calls in
more than 190 countries.
"The new BlackBerry 8820 builds on AT&T's leading domestic and
international coverage footprint by giving customers the ability to link
with their company's wireless campus network or access e-mail and browse
the Web at Wi-Fi hot spots even in the few countries in which we do not
have data roaming agreements," said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president --
Marketing and Operations for AT&T's wireless unit. "That makes the
BlackBerry 8820 from AT&T an exceptional world phone for global use by
business customers and individuals alike."
"The BlackBerry 8820 builds upon the sleek and performance-driven
BlackBerry 8800 that has been embraced by business professionals around the
world," said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-CEO at RIM. "This powerful
new model has been eagerly anticipated by the market, and we are very
pleased to be working with AT&T to launch the first cellular and Wi-Fi
BlackBerry handset for customers in the U.S."
The BlackBerry 8820 provides support for 802.11a, b and g with
enterprise security features, extending the BlackBerry platform to business
customers at public hot spots and on wireless local area networks.
Customers can use a BlackBerry 8820 to link to their enterprise through
home Wi-Fi networks. They also will be able to access broadband services,
such as the nation's leading service from AT&T -- AT&T Yahoo! High Speed
Internet.
The BlackBerry 8820 adds Wi-Fi capabilities to its industry-leading set
of features, which includes extensive call management and premium phone
features, built-in Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) -- with support for
such solutions as TeleNav GPS Navigator(TM) and TeleNav Track(TM) -- AT&T's
Push-to-Talk service, Bluetooth(R) 2.0, built-in media player and a microSD
expandable memory slot for music, photo and video storage.
The BlackBerry 8820 also supports AT&T Mobile Music, an integrated,
on-the-go music experience that delivers "your music, your way" by
providing simple access to a robust collection of music content, including
access to online subscription music content from eMusic, XM Satellite Radio
and more.
In addition, the BlackBerry 8820 comes with a full QWERTY keyboard, an
intuitive trackball navigation system and a large, bright landscape (320 x
240) display. Customers have a vivid and easy-to-use interface for the many
popular capabilities of the BlackBerry solution, including mobile access to
corporate and personal e-mail, text messages, Web browsing, an organizer,
multimedia and corporate data applications.
Pricing and Availability
The BlackBerry 8820 will be available for $299.99 -- with a two-year
contract and rebate -- in all 1,800 AT&T retail stores nationwide, online
at http://www.wireless.att.com and through select national retailers and
AT&T business-to-business sales organizations.
Customers who want personal e-mail access and Web browsing with
BlackBerry(R) Internet Service can choose the BlackBerry Personal Unlimited
plan for as low as $29.99 a month with a qualified voice contract.
Unlimited corporate e-mail access via BlackBerry(R) Enterprise Server is as
low as $44.99 a month when a qualified voice plan also is chosen. Customers
who travel overseas can select an unlimited international e-mail access
plan for as low as $64.99 a month with a qualified voice plan. Unlimited
Push to Talk service is available for an additional monthly charge of $9.99
for each handset and $19.99 for Push to Talk Family. AT&T Push to Talk also
features a pay-per-use option of 15 cents a minute. XM Satellite Radio and
MusicID, which are features within AT&T Mobile Music, require monthly
subscription fees of $8.99 and $3.99, respectively. TeleNav GPS Navigator
is available for additional monthly charges of $5.99 for 10 trips and $9.99
for unlimited trips. TeleNav Track service plans are $12.99 to $21.99 for
each device.
For more information about the BlackBerry 8820 from AT&T, please visit
http://www.wireless.att.com/blackberry8820 or
http://www.blackberry8820.com.
*Access charges from individual Wi-Fi hot spot operators may apply
**Not available in all areas
This AT&T news release and other announcements are available as part of
an RSS feed at http://www.att.com/rss.
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.
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. 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.
(C) 2007 AT&T Knowledge Ventures. All rights reserved. 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. RIM assumes no liability and
makes no representation, warranty or guarantee in relation to third party
products or services. AT&T is a registered trademark of AT&T Knowledge
Ventures. Subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. provide products and
services under the AT&T brand. All other brands, product names, company
names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective
owners.
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 http://www.blackberry.com http://www.blackberry8820.com
Photo Notes: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070919/AQW029 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN5 PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT: John Kampfe of AT&T, +1-973-637-9387, mobile, +1-908-432-3473, john.kampfe@att.com; or Marisa Conway of Brodeur, +1-212-515-1924, mconway@brodeur.com, for RIM; or investors, Investor Relations of RIM, +1-519-888-7465, investor_relations@rim.com
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