Research In Motion

Research In Motion Limited (RIM) is a Canadian wireless device company. It is best known as the developer of the BlackBerry handheld communication device.

RIM is headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, and are sponsors of RIM Park in the north of the city. It was founded by Mike Lazaridis, who currently serves as its co-CEO along with Jim Balsillie.

Prior to the manufacture of the BlackBerry, RIM worked with RAM Mobile Data and Ericsson to turn the Ericsson developed Mobitex wireless data network into a two-way paging and wireless email network. Pivotal in this development was the release of the Inter@ctive pager 950, which started shipping in August of 1998. About the size of a bar of soap, this device competed against the SkyTel two way paging network developed by Motorola.

The first BlackBerry was released in early 1999, using the same hardware as the Inter@active pager 950, and running on the Mobitex network. The first BlackBerry integrating a cell phone, as well as the first Blackberry sold outside of North America was released in 2001, using the european GSM / GPRS standard. Since then, RIM has released a variety of devices running on GSM, CDMA, and iDen networks.

RIM develops its own software for its devices, using C++ and Java technology. RIM also develops and sells embedded wireless data components.

RIM stock is traded on NASDAQ as , and on the TSX as RIM.

In March 2005 the company settled a lengthy patent infringement lawsuit with NTP Management for US$450 million.

External links

• Research In Motion Website
• BlackBerry Technology Website