Research In Motion Limited engages in the design, manufacture and marketing of wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. The company provides platforms and solutions for access to email, phone, SMS (short message service), Internet and intranet-based applications. It primarily operates in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. The company’s primary products, services and embedded technologies include BlackBerry wireless platform, software development tools, and other software and hardware.
The BlackBerry wireless solution includes wireless devices, software and service. It can provide users with a wireless extension of their work and personal email accounts, including Microsoft Outlook, IBM Lotus Notes, Novell GroupWise and some ISP email services. BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES), the enterprise solution allows Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino and Novell GroupWise users to send and receive corporate email and Instant Messages. BlackBerry also enables the use of personal information management (PIM), functions such as calendar, address book, task list and other functions associated with personal organizers. The BlackBerry Mobile Data System (MDS), allows users to access data from enterprise applications and the Internet. BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS), the company's offering for the consumer and prosumer markets, allows the integration of approximately 10 supported email accounts on the same BlackBerry smartphone. Both BlackBerry Enterprise Solution and BlackBerry Internet Service allow Internet browsing and full phone functionality on the user’s smartphone. BlackBerry service is provided through a combination of the company's network operations center and the wireless networks of carrier partners.
The company markets various models of its smartphones, including: BlackBerry 8800 Series, BlackBerry Pearl, BlackBerry 8700 series, BlackBerry 7100 Series, BlackBerry 7500 Series and the BlackBerry 5790. These products have been designed to accommodate the technical requirements of the GSM/GPRS/EDGE, CDMA/1xRTT/EvDO, UMTS, iDEN or Mobitex protocols. Additionally, RIM supports older model devices on the GPRS, Mobitex and DataTAC networks.
In addition, the company markets the BlackBerry Smart Card Reader, which is a lightweight, wearable smart card reader that enables controlled access to BlackBerry smartphones using Bluetooth technology and AES-256 encryption. The BlackBerry Smart Card Reader is FIPS 140-2 validated and can be used to comply with certain government or corporate security requirements by enabling two-factor authentication for BlackBerry smartphones and applications. The BlackBerry Smart Card Reader provides support for various smart cards, including the U.S. Department of Defense’s Common Access Card (CAC). The BlackBerry Smart Card Reader also supports S/MIME and can be used in conjunction with the S/MIME Support Package for BlackBerry Smartphones.
The company also offers the BlackBerry Connect licensing program, which enables device manufacturers to equip their handsets with BlackBerry functionality, including push technology to automatically deliver email and other data, so users and organizations can connect to BlackBerry wireless services on a selection of devices and operating systems.
The company, through the BlackBerry Connect licensing program, has entered into development agreements with or licensed certain of its intellectual property to ASUSTek Computer, Inc., High Tech Computer Corporation, Motorola, Inc., Nokia Corporation, Palm, Inc., Samsung Electronics and Sony Ericsson Mobile Communication AB. BlackBerry Connect software is available for various operating systems, including Palm OS, Windows Mobile and Symbian OS.
Products and Services
The company's primary product is the BlackBerry wireless solution, consisted of wireless devices, software and service. BlackBerry service is provided through a combination of RIM’s Network Operating Center (NOC) and the wireless networks of RIM’s carrier partners.
BlackBerry Smartphones
BlackBerry devices are communication tools that incorporate wireless technology to deliver mobile communications access. These devices utilize ‘push-based’ technology that delivers email and other data to a BlackBerry smartphone, as well as a mobile phone and integrated browser and organizer applications. BlackBerry smartphones are available from approximately 200 carriers and are designed to operate on various carrier network types, including GSM/GPRS/EDGE, CDMA/Ev-DO, iDEN, UMTS and Mobitex.
BlackBerry Curve: The BlackBerry Curve is the addition to the BlackBerry smartphone family. It is the smallest and lightest full QWERTY keyboard BlackBerry smartphone. The BlackBerry Curve offers new features without compromising on core BlackBerry functionality. It offers email, web browser, text messaging (SMS and MMS), instant messaging, organizer applications, mapping and phone, as well as a 2 megapixel camera, enhanced multimedia and expandable memory.
BlackBerry 8800 Series: This includes BlackBerry 8800 and BlackBerry 8830 World Edition. The BlackBerry 8800 Series is compact and slim with capabilities, including: a sharp screen with built-in light-sensing technology, built-in GPS and mapping, expandable memory, media player, tethered modem and a battery. The 8830 is the CDMA BlackBerry smartphone capable of roaming globally on GSM/GPRS networks.
BlackBerry Pearl: The BlackBerry Pearl offers BlackBerry SureType input technology. It offers phone, digital camera, multimedia capabilities and expandable memory in addition to the full BlackBerry experience of email, web browser, text messaging (SMS and MMS), instant messaging and organizer applications.
BlackBerry 8700 Series: This includes BlackBerry 8700c, BlackBerry 8700f, BlackBerry 8700g, BlackBerry 8700r and BlackBerry 8700v. The BlackBerry 8700 Series features web browsing and attachment handling performance, a bright, auto-sensing screen, speakerphone, send/end phone buttons, Bluetooth support and an Intel XScale processor.
BlackBerry 7100 Series: This includes BlackBerry 7130e, BlackBerry 7100g, BlackBerry 7100i, BlackBerry 7100r, BlackBerry 7105t, BlackBerry 7100v and BlackBerry 7100x. The BlackBerry 7100 Series business phone is an integrated solution, incorporating the traditional BlackBerry offerings, as well as speakerphone capabilities and Bluetooth hands-free headset and car kit support. The BlackBerry 7100 Series is the series of devices to incorporate the company's SureType keyboard technology. Different versions of the BlackBerry 7100 Series are available for the iDEN, GSM/GPRS, and Ev-DO networks.
BlackBerry 7500 Series: This includes BlackBerry 7510 and BlackBerry 7520. The color BlackBerry 7510 and BlackBerry 7520 handhelds operate on the iDEN network through Nextel in the United States and Telus in Canada. These handhelds integrate the traditional BlackBerry offering, as well as Nextel’s walkie-talkie feature. The BlackBerry 7520 also incorporate assisted Global Positioning System (aGPS) functionality and Bluetooth.
Service
The company offers BlackBerry service relating to monthly access billings charged to its BlackBerry subscriber account base.
Subsidiaries
The company’s wholly owned subsidiaries include Research In Motion Corporation; Research In Motion UK Limited; and RIM Finance, LLC.
Acquisitions
In early 2007, the company acquired Ascendent Systems, Inc. to enable PBX integration in instant messaging and unified communications platforms. In addition, the company also acquired SlipStream Data Inc.
Customers
The primary direct customers for the BlackBerry wireless solution are wireless carriers. The company sells GPRS/EDGE, CDMA/Ev-DO and iDEN devices and software to carriers, who in turn bundle the handhelds and software with airtime and sell the solution to end customers. Software is licensed directly to end customers. The company’s BES supports multiple networks and devices, so that BlackBerry service from multiple carriers can be deployed within a company using the same BES software.
Competition
In the wireless data communications access market, the company competes with: Casio, Inc.; Danger, Inc.; Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson; Fujitsu Limited; HandEra, Inc.; Hewlett-Packard Company; Hitachi America, Ltd.; Intermec Technologies Corporation; Itronix Corp; Kyocera Corp or Kyocera International, Inc.; Microsoft Corporation; Mitsubishi Corporation; Motorola, Inc.; NEC Corp.; Nokia Corp.; Novatel Wireless, Inc.; NTT DoCoMo, Inc.; Option NV, Palm, Inc.; Sanyo Electronic Co., Ltd.; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Sendo, Ltd.; Sharp Corporation; Sierra Wireless, Inc.; Sony Corporation; and Sony Ericsson, Inc.
In addition the company may face competition from companies focused on providing middleware to facilitate wireless messaging solutions. Companies in this category include Motorola, Inc.; IBM Corporation; Microsoft Corporation; Notify Technology Corporation; Openwave Systems, Inc.; Seven Networks, Inc.; Sybase, Inc.; and Visto Corporation. The company competes with companies that operate independent NOCs, including Motorola, Inc. and Visto Corporation. It also competes with Nokia Corporation, which operates a carrier-based NOC.
History
Research In Motion Limited was founded in 1984.
