Rogers and RIM Launch the New BlackBerry Curve 8900 Smartphone in Canada
Thinnest
and lightest full-QWERTY BlackBerry smartphone joins Rogers’ lineup of
innovative and stylish BlackBerry smartphones, on Canada’s most
reliable wireless network
Toronto and Waterloo, ON,
December 8, 2008 – Rogers Wireless (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RCI) and Research
In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM, TSX: RIM) today announce the launch of
the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900 smartphone. The new BlackBerry Curve 8900
delivers a sleek, new twist on a classic style, and it is the thinnest
full-QWERTY BlackBerry smartphone to date. It combines quad-band EDGE
support with built-in Wi-Fi® and GPS, a 512 MHz next-generation
processor and a dazzling 480 x 360, high-resolution display.
With
an expansive feature-set including a powerful media player and 3.2
megapixel camera, as well as advanced phone, email, messaging,
organizer and web browser applications, the BlackBerry Curve 8900
smartphone makes it incredibly easy to connect with family, friends and
co-workers and to stay both productive and entertained while on the go.
“Rogers
is thrilled to offer Canadians the exclusive BlackBerry Curve 8900, the
smallest full-QWERTY BlackBerry smartphone to enter the market,” said
John Boynton, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Rogers
Wireless. “With its ingenious design and stunning display, leading-edge
mobile messaging system and compatibility with Rogers TalkSpot, the
BlackBerry Curve 8900 strikes the right balance between serious
business tool and social lifeline.”
"The new BlackBerry Curve
8900 smartphone packs an amazing range of useful features into a simply
beautiful and compact design," said Mark Guibert, Vice President,
Corporate Marketing, Research In Motion. "It delivers a winning
combination for people who want exceptional phone quality, reliable
email and messaging and great media features together with a well
designed keyboard and renowned ease-of-use."
The BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone from Rogers Wireless features:
- A refined, streamlined design – the handset weighs just 110 grams and measures only 109mm x 60mm x 13.5mm
- A brilliant 2.4 inch HVGA+ light-sensing display that makes pictures and videos come to life
- A 3.2 MP digital camera including auto focus, digital zoom, flash, image stabilization and video recording
- Built-in
GPS supporting TeleNav GPS Navigator™ and BlackBerry® Maps -- providing
maps, step-by-step directions, and local searches -- as well as support
for geotagging pictures
- Built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) with support for Rogers TalkSpot™ service
- The Rogers Do More portal enabling access to a variety of mobile applications for business and personal use
- Instant messaging with BlackBerry® Messenger, Google® Talk, Windows Live Messenger™ and Yahoo! ® Messenger
- Support
for the Facebook® for BlackBerry® Smartphones application, which
enables fast, streamlined and optimized mobile access to the popular
Facebook social utility
- An advanced media player for music, video and pictures, including support for streaming audio and video
- An enhanced web browser that displays full web pages quickly, for a desktop-style browsing experience wherever you are
- MicroSD/SDHC memory card slot supporting cards up to 16 GB, ideal for storing songs, pictures, videos and documents
- Removable and rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery that provides approximately 5.5 hours of talk time and 15 days of standby time
- DataViz® Documents To Go® preinstalled, enabling customers to edit Microsoft® Word, Excel and PowerPoint files on the smartphone
- Support for BlackBerry® Media Sync, giving users a simple way to sync iTunes® digital music collections with the smartphone*
- Premium
phone features including voice activated dialing, enhanced background
noise cancellation, a low-distortion speakerphone, and Bluetooth® (2.0)
support for hands-free use with headsets, car kits, stereo headsets and
other Bluetooth peripherals
- BlackBerry® Internet Service
support that allows access to up to 10 supported personal and corporate
email accounts, including most popular ISP email accounts
- BlackBerry® Enterprise Server support for enterprise deployments with advanced security and IT controls
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY Beginning
today, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone is available from Rogers
from $179.99 with activation on any combination of 3 year voice and
data plan with minimum combined monthly service fee of $45 per month
from Rogers. Some conditions apply.
For more information please visit:
www.blackberry.com/blackberrycurve or
www.rogers.com/8900. About Rogers WirelessRogers
Wireless provides wireless voice and data communications services
across Canada to more than 7.7 million customers under both the Rogers
Wireless and Fido brands. Proven to operate Canada's most reliable
wireless voice and data communications network, Rogers Wireless is
Canada's largest wireless provider and the only carrier operating on
the global standard GSM and highly advanced HSPA technology platforms.
In addition to providing seamless roaming in more than 200
countries/areas with its GSM based services, Rogers Wireless also
provides wireless broadband services across Canada utilizing its 2.5GHz
fixed wireless spectrum. Rogers Wireless is a subsidiary of Rogers
Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RCI), a diversified Canadian
communications and media company. For further information, please visit
www.rogers.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.* Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies.
Media Contacts: Marisa Conway
Brodeur Partners (PR Agency for RIM)
(212) 515-1924
mconway@brodeur.com
Odette Coleman
Rogers Wireless
416-935-6441
odette.coleman@rci.rogers.com
Investor Contact:RIM Investor Relations
(519) 888-7465
investor_relations@rim.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.

Want to learn how to use your BlackBerry® smartphone? Visit youtube.com/blackberry to help you get the most out of your BlackBerry smartphone!
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