Archive for the ‘Telecommunications’ Category

RIM Announces BBM Music – A New Social Music Sharing and Discovery Service

                                                                  New Cloud-Based Music Service Makes Music a Social Experience

CaribPR Wire, Waterloo, ON – August 25, 2011 – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced BBM™ Music, a new BBM (BlackBerry® Messenger) service for socially connected music fans.

BBM Music is an easy-to-use cloud-based service that enables social and viral music discovery by allowing users to build an evolving, community-based music library that is shared amongst their BBM Music friends. The size of the music library continues to grow as new friends join the community and each user can select music from a catalog with millions of songs from leading music companies – Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and EMI.

“More than 45 million customers already love the social communication benefits delivered through BBM and we are thrilled to be extending the experience into a uniquely social and interactive music service,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “We have partnered with leading music companies to provide a ‘full track’ music sharing and discovery experience that will provide users with quality music on demand and allow them to connect with friends on a whole new level.” 

Key features of BBM Music include:

  • Music made social – BBM Music is a cloud-based, social music service that allows you to share and discover music with your friends, creating a continually evolving music library:
  •  
    • Build a personal music profile with 50 of your favorite songs. You can refresh your profile by swapping out up to 25 songs each month.
    • Invite your BBM friends to subscribe to BBM Music and to join your BBM Music Community.
    • With each friend that is added to BBM Music, you grow your music collection since the songs from the profile of each BBM Music friend are available to you at any time.
    • Up to 50 tracks from your personal profile are shared with your BBM Music Community, and each member of your community shares up to 50 songs from their profile with you.
    • Enjoy a truly social community-based music experience – the more friends who join your community, the more songs you can listen to.
    • Easily discover music that your BBM Music friends are listening to, and comment on your friends’ songs and playlists.
    • You can create multiple playlists from music in your profile as well as all of your friends’ profiles, and with one click you can shuffle the entire collection of music from your BBM Music Community. You can even see which friend contributed each song while it plays.
    • Within your BBM Music app, you also see a visual timeline that shows the recent updates of all users within your community. It gives you a chronological view of community updates, including who added new friends, which songs were added or removed, which playlists were created and what comments were made by your BBM Music friends.
  • Listen to Full Tracks – BBM Music subscribers can listen to full tracks from their friends’ profiles – not just previews.
  • Offline Listening - Music can be saved to smartphones for offline listening, allowing users to access songs even when they don’t have wireless coverage.
  • Topping the Charts – Keep track of how many friends are listening to your tracks.

 Omnifone, a premier cloud music service provider, is providing RIM with a back-end solution for the BBM Music service that provides content management, music hosting and reporting functions based on Omnifone’s award winning technology. As part of RIM’s proprietary service, Omnifone’s back-end solution helps facilitate the delivery of a full music catalog to BBM Music users and comprehensive compensation reporting for copyright holders.

“A major component of online music continues to be about community, and the ability to discover new artists and music through word of mouth,” stated Rob Wells, President of Global Digital Business for Universal Music Group. “BBM Music dynamically and elegantly integrates the excitement of this social music discovery process with a high quality music service, enabling tens of millions of BlackBerry users to experience new music and to share those experiences with their friends virtually anywhere and at anytime.”  

“We are pleased to be partnering with Research In Motion on their BBM Music service. RIM and its large base of BlackBerry Messenger users represent an exciting platform for expanding the reach of commercial digital music around the world,” stated Thomas Hesse, President, Global Digital Business, U.S. Sales and Corporate Strategy, Sony Music Entertainment. “The combination of a premium music solution and instant messaging will enable viral music discovery and emphasize the social power of digital music. It also offers an effective way of serving younger consumers by integrating music into the fabric of an important hub of their digital activity.”

“A dynamic social music experience is a powerful way for our artists to connect with fans and also for fans to discover music by interacting with each other,” said Michael Nash, Executive Vice President, Digital Strategy & Business Development, Warner Music Group. “Addressing more than 45 million BlackBerry Messenger users with a service tailor-made for its mobile community, BBM Music has the opportunity to reach a broad and engaged audience.”

 “We are very excited to work with Research In Motion to bring our artists’ music to BBM’s huge and very loyal user base,” said Mark Piibe, Executive Vice President of Global Business Development at EMI Music. “BBM Music’s unique social discovery experience offers fans a great new way to discover music, share their favorite tracks with their friends and build a stronger connection with the artists they love.”

“The widespread adoption of mobile devices provides the perfect foundation for consuming and sharing music. Brands that want to deliver a unique interactive experience must create services that are mobile, social, and contextual,” said Maribel Lopez Principal at Lopez Research and Constellation Research Group. 

A closed beta trial of the BBM Music service is starting today in Canada, the United States and the UK. The BBM Music service is expected to be commercially available to customers later this year for a monthly subscription of $4.99 USD* in Australia, Canada, Columbia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, the United Kingdom and the United States.

For more information about BBM Music, and to sign up to be notified of its availability in your country, please visit www.blackberry.com/bbmmusic.

 * Pricing may vary by country and will be announced upon availability in each country. Data charges may apply if music is downloaded over wireless networks in conjunction with limited data plans. Check with your network operator for the terms of your data plan. 

About Research In Motion

Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. 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.

 

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws.  When used herein, words such as “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”,  “may”,  “will”, “should”, “intend,” “believe”, and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances.  Many factors could cause RIM’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of RIM’s Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained atwww.sedar.com or www.sec.gov).  These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM’s forward-looking statements.  RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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 obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services. 

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BTI Systems Makes CALA Push

Demand for Ethernet Business Services, Wireless Backhaul and Transparent Caching Solutions Drive Expansion; Appoints Industry Vet Alex Fano to Lead Effort

OTTAWA, Ontario, Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – BTI Systems, an innovator in intelligent packet optical networking for metropolitan networks, today announced that it will extend operations to support the growing Caribbean and Latin America region. With this expansion, BTI Systems will support its existing customers and meet the increased demand for Ethernet business services, wireless backhaul, content aware networking and transparent caching solutions among service providers throughout the area. Alex Fano has been named Vice President, CALA Sales and will lead the company’s push throughout this growing telecom market.

 

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110228/CL55052LOGO )

 Industry Imperative

  • According to Infonetics Research, service providers around the globe have increased their Ethernet services revenue 20 percent over the last two years, as companies continue to seek the efficiencies and cost savings these services afford. The CALA region is no exception with nearly 8 percent growth in Ethernet business services.
  • As service providers in CALA shift to optimize operations by converging mobile and fixed traffic in the same network, it is driving the move to all-IP/Ethernet backhaul for mobile broadband and LTE traffic.
  • Netflix’s planned expansion into the CALA region is driving service providers to add caching with Carrier Ethernet switches to address network congestion, much of which is driven by exploding video traffic. 

 What It Means to the Market, BTI Systems

  • The strengthening of the global network into CALA will provide valuable support for BTI Systems customers with deployments already underway in Jamaica and St. Maarten. This expansion also significantly extends the BTI Systems’ international footprint – with support now available in each major region worldwide.
  • Lead by an experienced local team that understands the challenges unique to the CALA market, prospective customers and partners will have seamless access to the knowledge, applications and infrastructure BTI Systems is known for around the globe.
  • Establishment of operations in CALA follows the recent announcement of a newly-opened Center of Excellence in Wuhan, China.   

Meet Alex Fano, Vice President, CALA Sales

  • Alex Fano has been appointed as Sales Vice President for BTI Systems’ operations in the CALA region. Fano will oversee sales and marketing operations from the company’s new Houston office.
  • Fano has more than 19 years of sales and management experience throughout CALA’s telecommunications industry with Octel, Ascom, Bytemobile, BroadSoft and Openwave. His experience includes building strong channel partners and developing solid regional relationships with operators. 

Quotes

  • “BTI Systems is already making its mark in the CALA region and now is the perfect time to extend its reach and establish a physical presence in the region,” said Alex Fano, Vice President, CALA Sales, BTI Systems. “The company’s metro networking architecture and content aware networking solutions will be welcomed by the region’s carriers seeking an agile solution to manage and grow its networks for the future.”

 

  • “There is significant interest in the market for agile service delivery solutions to aid the burgeoning demand on network infrastructure – including Ethernet business services and OTT content delivery,” said Pete Dale, Vice President of Sales, Americas for BTI Systems. “Alex’s experience and respected position within the industry will be a crucial factor to BTI Systems’ success throughout CALA. We look forward to his leadership in one of the world’s fastest-growing and unique telecom markets.”

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 About BTI Systems

BTI Systems redefines service delivery with its intelligent packet-optical service platforms that help over 300 service provider and enterprise customers converge, transition and connect Ethernet, video and wireless data services in their metropolitan networks. The BTI Systems portfolio consists of the BTI 7000 Series packet optical networking platform, WideCast Content Aware Networking solutions, the BTI 700 Series Carrier Ethernet access portfolio, and the proNX Management Suite offering element, network, service management and strategic planning capabilities. BTI Systems is headquartered in the heart of Ottawa’s technology corridor and has regional offices in markets throughout the world. For more information, visit www.btisystems.com.

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Enjoy Summer Travel with your BlackBerry smartphone

CaribPR Wire, MIAMI, FL, Fri. July 8, 2011: Summer is here and your BlackBerry® smartphone can be the ultimate partner throughout all of your travel adventures. Capture, and share videos and pictures with your family members and friends with BBM™ (BlackBerry Messenger), and other useful applications we recommend before your take off. Free and paid applications are available in BlackBerry App World™ (www.blackberry.com/appworld).

BlackBerry Travel

travel

Plan, book, manage and share your summer travel activities with BlackBerry Travel. This application for BlackBerry smartphones will allow you to search and book flights, as well as places to stay, car rentals and more. It features a currency converter, weather forecast for your destination and local search to find what you need while on the go.

 http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/25652

Ultimate Maps

map

Ultimate Maps provides detailed maps from around the world, including roads, walking paths, cycle routes, bus and train stops that keep you on track during your summer travel.  This app will show you where you are, what direction you’re walking or driving in, and even what your speed is.

 http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/13749

Navita Translator

 translator

Don’t miss a beat of your summer travel with Navita Translator. With this application for BlackBerry smartphones you can translate-and-speak words, phrases from emails, as well as from the BlackBerry browser, SMS and typing in the software into more than 50 languages.

 http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/522

Animated Margarita Tropical Vacation

islands

Get in the mood for summer with the Animated Margarita Tropical Vacation theme. Turn your BlackBerry smartphone into a mobile paradise and enjoy every bit of your summer vacation with a colorful and animated style.

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/5134

Slide Show Maker

 slidemakrer

Share every moment of your summer vacation with your loved ones back home. The Slide Show Maker application for BlackBerry smartphones allows you to select pictures taken from your BlackBerry smartphone camera and create a slideshow to share via email with your family and friends.

 http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/42626

WeatherBug

weatherbb

Stay informed and prepared throughout you summer vacation with WeatherBug. Get live local weather, sever weather alerts, in-depth forecasts, camera views, detailed radar maps and international weather.

 http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/760

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Volante Awarded First SWIFT Label in 2011 for SWIFTReady Messaging Data Services

As SWIFT MDS vendor, Volante provides advanced data integration tools for SWIFT messaging used by financial institutions and corporate treasuries

 NEW YORK, July 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Volante Technologies announced today that Volante Designer for SWIFT has once again received the first certification awarded for the 2011 label in SWIFTReady Messaging Data Services (MDS). In certification testing, the application earned perfect scores in transformation and validation of SWIFT messages.

 ”The fact that Volante Designer scored 100% in both tests is evidence of Volante’s meticulous implementation of SWIFT defined rules,” said Filip Versluys, Head of Partner Management for SWIFT, “and confirms the credibility of this application as a comprehensive messaging data solution.  The MDS certification is the most advanced integration category SWIFT recognizes, enabling users to accelerate any type of SWIFT-related development.” 

SWIFT criteria for the SWIFTReady Messaging Data Services (MDS) label include comprehensive support for SWIFT Standards, such as validation against syntactical and semantic rules; transformation of the messages between different formats, support for various SWIFT directories and deployment of run-time libraries in various modes including SOA environments that can be used by financial applications.

 The Messaging Data Service maps application data, such as payment instructions, into SWIFT-based messages or files that are ready to be supplied to any financial counterparty through SWIFT interfaces. Reversely, it transforms messages from SWIFT into formats supported by back-office applications.

 ”We are proud that, once again, Volante is first to successfully complete the SWIFTReady MDS certification tests. We provide the same speed and precision to our customers, in expediting their  SWIFT projects,” said Vijay Oddiraju, CEO of Volante. “In addition, our customers receive their annual SWIFT updates early each year, so they have plenty of time to deploy the new standards before SWIFT’s November deadlines. This is why Volante integration technology is used by leading banks and treasuries around the world.”

 In addition to message integration, Volante tools offer features such as offline testing, metadata capture and management, and WebForms for data entry and repair. Volante technology works with any software, network and infrastructure environment without requiring dedicated infrastructure.

Companies interested in a demonstration of Volante Designer for SWIFT are invited to contact Volante at [email protected].

 About Volante

Since 2001, Volante Technologies has been providing software solutions for financial data messaging. Volante’s award-winning tools slash development time and costs, while simplifying data integration and data management for low-latency environments, service oriented architectures, vendor data consolidation, complex event processing, SWIFT message integration and other complex data challenges. Volante’s metadata-based technology also enables enterprise data governance and model-based data initiatives.

 Volante technology is employed by top-tier financial institutions and treasuries around the globe, as well as industry utilities and leading vendors of software and services. For more information, visit www.volantetech.com.

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BlackBerry Smartphones Offer The Ultimate Social Experience

CaribPR Wire, MIAMI, FL, Mon. June 27, 2011: The BlackBerry® solution is the ultimate social platform and users can take advantage of its powerful social aspects with the globally popular BBM™ (BlackBerry Messenger), as well as easy access to Facebook and Twitter on BlackBerry® smartphones.

 BBM™ – A global phenomenon

 With over 2 million users joining per month, BBM represents a global community with more than 45 million active users. BBM users send billions of messages per month, and 70% of them are on BBM daily. The service allows users to chat with friends or groups anywhere, anytime and easily share pictures, videos, voice notes, and even their location. There are over 5.4 million BBM groups already created.

 Facebook® for BlackBerry – 35 million active users

With 35 million monthly active users, the fan base has doubled in the last 12 months alone. The app allows users to stay connected on Facebook, send messages, view pictures, and more.

 Twitter for BlackBerry – In the top 5

With 26 million downloads, Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones is among the top 5 mobile Twitter apps in use around the world. The app allows users to post tweets, send direct messages to friends, add and share photos, search for trending topics, and more.

 BlackBerry App World™ – Global growth

With an average of 3 million daily downloads, BlackBerry App World features a catalog of over 30,000 apps for BlackBerry smartphones and over 3,000 apps for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. BlackBerry App World is available in more than 100 markets around the world. 

A place to meet – Learn to share

 

“A place to meet” is a new interactive portal for BBM users that offers a series of “how to” videos, giving users a great overview of popular BBM features.

 Visit www.bbmaplacetomeet.com and learn to share.

 The BBM Social Platform was also recently announced. It is a new feature coming to BBM that allows developers to add the BBM functionality and experience into their own apps, such as for multimedia, ebooks, gaming, video and commerce, among others. What was previously a solitary experience suddenly becomes a social experience.

bbm

 Note to editors: Briefings available upon request and pending speaker availability.

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2011 LIME-CANA Netball Season Opens With A Bang

LimeOpeningCaribPR Wire, BROOKLYN, NY, Monday, June 06, 2011:  The 2011 LIME sponsored Caribbean American Netball Association (CANA) competition will get underway in earnest this weekend – Saturday and Sunday, June 11th and 12th, at the Lincoln Terrace Park in Brooklyn, New York.

 The expectation for another successful season is on the lips and minds of almost everyone involved after last Saturday’s opening day rally, uniform parade and march past in  front of a lively audience that included Sheldon Keens-Douglas, regional head of sponsorship for telecommunication giant LIME, and Carole Hokrein, Secretary of the United States of America Netball Association – USANA.

 ”LIME is pleased to be associated with CANA in building awareness for the sport here in the USA and by extension, deepening the cultural bond between the brand and the overseas Caribbean community here in New York City,” noted Keens-Douglas; in town at the  opening ceremony for the 15th annual Netball season this past Saturday, Lincoln Terrace Park, Brooklyn, the home for this season’s tournament.

 This is the second of a multi-year deal between LIME, and CANA, who insists the partnership is already paying dividends.  “The outlook for the season ahead could not be better,” said Jackie Farrell, Public Relations Officer for CANA. “On the court, we expect keen yet friendly competition from the teams in all four divisions and thanks to our corporate partners and media interest and (our) crowd support is growing.”

 With a number of teams being promoted from last season, Saturday’s opening day results got more than a passing grade from Hokrien, who is busy preparing for the USA National Championships to be hosted by CANA at Queens College, Flushing here in New York City on June 25th and 26th.

 ”Contrary to popular belief, the sport is alive and well. Just look at the color and competition on display despite the limitations,” Hokrein noted, pointing to what she said was not the best surface to play on at this level.

 Crusaders Netball Club proved to be the best on display, topping the opening rally, ahead of MINC and Sunsplash. In the uniform parade, new comers Pivot NC created something of an upset, finishing in second place, behind Volcanoes NC and ahead of Islanders NC.

 Thirteen clubs are expected to start the regular season on Saturday at noon at the park.

 ABOUT LIME

 LIME, (formerly Cable & Wireless), is the Caribbean`s leading telecommunications company, currently servicing 14 Caribbean countries. LIME has kept the people of the Caribbean connected for more than 100 years and is focused on providing products and services that improve the lives of Caribbean people every day whether they live in the region or are part of the Diaspora.  LIME offers Top Up service to connect those living in the US to friends and family in the Caribbean. LIME`s aim is to deliver the best communication services at the best value across the board-full stop. LIME for living every day.  Visit www.lime.com to learn  more.

 ABOUT CANA

CANA – Caribbean American Netball Association started its first inaugural season in 1996 and is dedicated to the development and growth of netball in the USA with an emphasis on participation, individual progress, team unity, good health and education of youths.

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Applications for BlackBerry® smartphones to treat Dad on his day

CaribPR Wire, MIAMI, FL, Mon. June 6, 2011: As Father’s Day approaches, here is a list of cool, useful and unique BlackBerry® smartphone apps that will keep dad connected on Father’s Day.

 For busy dad’s who love technology and being up-to-date, BlackBerry smartphone apps are the perfect tools inside their BlackBerry smartphones. They provide easy access to Internet, emails,

agendas, meetings, calendars and social networks, offering a variety of advantages to dad’s on the run. Free and paid applications can be downloaded directly from BlackBerry App World™

(www.blackberry.com/appworld).

 How to Tie a Tie

tie

Simple step-by-step instructions illustrated by pictures for father’s who need to tie a necktie quickly and easily. The application for BlackBerry smartphones How To Tie a Tie will help dad with this challenge and provide him a wide choice of the most popular tie knots, including: Atlantic, Diagonal, Four-in-hand, Half windsor, Kelvin, Oriental, Persia, Plattsburg, Pratt, Simple double, St. Andrew and Windsor.

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/23447?lang=en

 Tungle.me

tungle

Tungle.me helps dad schedule meetings easily– across organizations, calendar systems and time zones– by eliminating the multiple emails, phone calls and double bookings that typically come with finding a time to meet. The application synchronizes with the leading online calendar systems including BlackBerry, Outlook, Google Calendar, Lotus Notes, Yahoo! and Windows Live.

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/11852?lang=en

 Vlingo

Vingo

The Vlingo Virtual Assistant application turns dad’s words into action. Vlingo combines fast, accurate voice recognition technology with RIM’s Intent Engine so he can quickly and easily get things done when on the go.

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/720?lang=en

 Cricket Companion World Cup 2011

cricket

The Cricket Companion World Cup 2011 application is dad’s all-in-one partner for the Cricket World Cup 2011. Let dad stay informed in style on his BlackBerry smartphone with the best Cricket World Cup moments, schedules, live scores, news, views, reviews and more.

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/27630?lang=en

 CamCard – Business Card Reader

camcard

The CamCard application is a professional business card reader that will help dad turn a pile of business cards into his BlackBerry smartphone Contacts with several clicks. Dad will only have to snap and click, and all the info on the business cards will be automatically recognized and categorized into his smartphone.

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/23750?lang=en

 GolfLogix

golf

The GolfLogix application for BlackBerry smartphones is the world leader in Golf GPS technology and holds a patent on wireless Golf GPS. It provides dad’s with live leaderboards, tournaments and virtual challenges. It is a golf community where he can connect and compete for prizes with millions of golfers Worldwide.

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/30755?lang=en

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/26626?lang=en

 Concur – Expense and Travel Management

Allow dad to create, review and approve expense reports, as well as access his business travel itineraries with the Concur Expense Management application for BlackBerry smartphones. This app will allow him to do all of his expense reports on time and invest his extra money on a fun family vacation.

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/10479?lang=en

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Black Berry World 2011 Wraps Up

CaribPR Wire, MIAMI, FL, Mon. May 9, 2011: The latest BlackBerry World 2011 in Orlando, Florida from May 2-5 was one of the most exciting BlackBerry events of the year with over 5.500 registered participants from 123 countries worldwide.

Over 1.600 channel partners attended and the 450,000 square feet show floor at the Orlando World Center Marriott was packed during the 10th anniversary of this show. Research In Motion extended the agenda and content of its flagship BlackBerry conference and therefore rebranded the event after nine successful years of WES.

RIM-BlackBerry-World-3D

RIM-BlackBerry-World-Adobe-2

RIM-BlackBerry-World-1

 RIM-BlackBerry-World-Mike-Lazaridis-2

BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 /BlackBerry 7 OS

 RIM has unveiled two new BlackBerry® Bold™ smartphones. The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones are the thinnest and most powerful BlackBerry smartphones yet – featuring the renowned BlackBerry keyboard together with a brilliant touch screen and the new BlackBerry 7 OS 

Thin, Sleek, Iconic Design - distinguished by an iconic design and the industry’s best keyboard, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones feature the premium materials and finishes that characterize the BlackBerry Bold line

  • Performance-Driven Platform – built on a new performance-driven platform featuring a 1.2 GHz processor, Liquid Graphics™ touch screen, and support for high speed 4G/HSPA+ wide area wireless networks.
  • Liquid Graphics touch screen – a key new feature powered by BlackBerry 7, delivers fast, smooth performance for highly responsive touch-based navigation, web browsing, pictures, video and graphics intensive games
  • 4G network support – the 9900 supports HSPA+ connectivity, and the 9930 supports CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and HSPA+ global roaming on GSM/UMTS networks.
  • NFC – includes built-in support for NFC (Near Field Communications), a new technology that will enable many rich and exciting experiences (pairing to an accessory or reading information such as a web link from smart tags by simply tapping their BlackBerry Bold to an NFC tag)
  • Augmented Reality – feature a built-in compass (magnetometer) to support location-based services and augmented reality.
    • Will also include Wikitude, the leader in mobile augmented reality, which overlays contextual information on what the user sees through the smartphone’s camera viewfinder.
    • HD Video – support up to 720p HD video recording and playback.

BlackBerry 7

  • Designed to power the new performance-driven BlackBerry Bold platform.
  • Provides an easier and faster user experience with improved browsing, voice-activated searches, the ability to manage personal content separately from corporate content, as well as additional personal and productivity apps out of the box.

 The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones are expected to be available from carriers around the world beginning this summer.

Product Page: www.blackberry.com/touchbold

 BlackBerry PlayBook Video Chat

The BlackBerry PlayBook Video Chat application is an easy and fun way for friends and family to place and receive video calls between BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablets over an internet connected Wi-Fi® network.

Key features of the PlayBook Video Chat application include:

  • One-Click Video and Voice over Wi-Fi Calls – can make a call from their Video Chat contact list, log of recent calls or simply by entering the BBID email address of the person they want to call.
  • Incoming Call Notifications – can accept the call as either a video or voice call, or decline the call. Can also set the “Do Not Disturb” option to automatically ignore all incoming calls.
  • Powerful In-Call Functions –picture-in-picture, ability to easily switch cameras, mute/unmute audio, make or take calls using voice only.
  • Friends List – enables users to maintain a list of favorite contacts.

 Availability: The BlackBerry PlayBook Video Chat application is expected to be available May 3, 2011 and will be distributed to existing BlackBerry PlayBook customers through an over-the-air software update and will also be available on BlackBerry App World ™. 

 Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook

Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook a new app that delivers popular features of Facebook, optimized for the 7″ high resolution, multi-touch LCD display of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

 Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook offers users a highly engaging experience by integrating popular features and functionality of Facebook including the ability to

  • View and add Friends
  • Enjoy seamless photo and video viewing
  • Connect with friends using Facebook Chat
  • View and interact with the News Feed

 Multi-Platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution

RIM announced plans for a multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution for managing and securing mobile devices for enterprises and government organizations.

  • The solution will make available the market-leading management, security and controls of BlackBerry® Enterprise Server and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express for BlackBerry® smartphones and BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablets.
  • Through RIM’s pending acquisition of ubitexx (creator of the ubi-Suite device management solution), the solution is expected to incorporate secure device management for Android and iOS based devices and tablets, all managed from a single web-based console.
  • The single web-based console is being designed to provide IT administrators with a simple and efficient way to distribute software and manage policies, inventory, security and services for BlackBerry smartphones and BlackBerry PlayBook tablets, as well as other mobile devices.
  • Registration for a product preview of the ubitexx solution is open today at http://www.ubitexx.com/trial.
  • The multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is planned for general availability later this year.

 BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5

RIM is helping more businesses bring together the desk phone and smartphone. RIM today announced plans to make BlackBerry® Mobile Voice System 5 (BlackBerry MVS 5) available to more corporate phone systems and unified communications applications.

  • BlackBerry MVS 5 with voice over Wi-Fi® calling will soon be available for Avaya Aura® 6.1, Avaya CS1000 Communication Server, as well as legacy phone systems such as Avaya Communications Manager and Nortel Communication Server.
  • It is also currently available for Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Cisco Call Manager Express, and Mitel Communications Director.
  • BlackBerry MVS 5 has also been re-architected to be more extensible with third party applications and phone systems.
  • BlackBerry MVS 5 is currently available from RIM and various resellers in the US and EMEA. To find a local reseller

Product Page: www.blackberry.com/mvs

 BlackBerry Balance

RIM is ) is advancing work-life balance on BlackBerry® smartphones with BlackBerry® Balance™ – new technology that makes possible the convenience of using a single BlackBerry smartphone for both work and personal purposes without compromising the security of company content and the privacy of personal content. 

  • RIM is introducing this technology in response to the growing trend by businesses to allow employees to use personal BlackBerry smartphones for work, or company-owned smartphones for personal, and the need by businesses to secure, manage and control confidential company or client information on these devices.
  • BlackBerry Balance presents a unified view of work and personal content on a BlackBerry smartphone while keeping the content separate and secure.
  • The division between work and personal content is transparent to the user unless they try to perform actions prohibited by company policy.
  • IT administrators can set policies via BlackBerry® Enterprise Server or BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express.
  • BlackBerry Balance is available only on BlackBerry devices and can be applied to employee- or company-owned smartphones.
  • It is built into BlackBerry® Enterprise Server 5.0.3 and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express 5.0.3 (available today) for Microsoft® Exchange® or IBM® Lotus® Domino®. It also requires the latest version of BlackBerry® 6 Device Software*.

Product Page: www.blackberry.com/balance

 

 

 

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Apps To Pamper Mom On Her Day

Unique, useful and entertaining BlackBerry smartphone apps that will keep mom connected with family, friends and work on Mother’s Day

 CaribPR Wire, BlackBerry® smartphone apps are the perfect tools and must-have accessories inside a women’s BlackBerry smartphone. They provide easy access to Internet, emails, agendas, photos, calendars and social network, offering a variety of advantages to mom’s on the go. Free and paid applications can be downloaded directly from BlackBerry App World™ (www.blackberry.com/appworld).   

Mother’s Day Flower

mothersday

Turn your mother’s BlackBerry smartphone into a cool and cute device with six different themes. This beautiful and colorful theme is perfect as a Mother’s Day present.

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/35721

Think of Me

thinkofme

Ever forget your mother’s birthday? Do you ever wish you had someone to remind you when Mother’s Day is coming up?  ThinkOfMe is this someone. A beautiful reminder app for all sorts of occasion: birthdays, anniversaries, name days and more.

 http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/13661

Find a Cure (Pink Ribbon)

findacure

Show your support to anyone that is battling, or has fought and won, breast cancer with this classy pink ribbon theme.

http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/12780

Baby GO!
baby

Baby GO! will keep your baby, toddler or older child entertained while learning letters, numbers, animals and more. Your little one will love pressing the keys, seeing colorful images dance around the screen and hearing the letter, number or name of the object being pronounced.
https://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/2973

The DriveSafely

thedriveDriveSafe.ly reads your text messages and emails out loud so you can concentrate on the road. Eliminate the temptation to reach for your phone by letting DriveSafe.ly read to you and automatically respond for you.
https://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/3381

 Mother’s Day

motherday2

Mother’s Day theme designed with a bottom dock of elegant icons. With an easy click of the spacebar an area designated for calendar entries and messages will appear.
There is also a slot in the top middle of the homescreen designated for a weather application to be placed there.
This theme is also intended to be used everyday, not only on Mother’s Day, and can be showed off by not only mothers but anyone who wants a pretty and functional theme.
(this theme is only available to users of bmobile, Cable & Wireless and LIME).
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/40756?lang=en

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RIM Announces Multi-Platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution for Smartphones and Tablets

Device Management Solution to Provide Security, Management, and Control of BlackBerry Devices, Plus Secure Management for Other Mobile Devices

 CaribPR Wire, Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM, TSX: RIM) is announcing today plans for a multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution for managing and securing mobile devices for enterprises and government organizations. The solution will make available the market-leading management, security and controls of BlackBerry® Enterprise Server and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express for BlackBerry® devices plus, through RIM’s pending acquisition of ubitexx (creator of the ubi-Suite device management solution), the solution is expected to incorporate secure device management for Android and iOS based devices and tablets, all managed from a single web-based console.

 “The multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is designed to address a growing market and respond to requests from enterprise customers who want a secure multi-platform device management solution from a company that already delivers the gold standard for enterprise mobility,” said Peter Devenyi, Vice President, Communications Platform Group at Research In Motion. “We recognize the opportunity to continue leading in the enterprise market by providing customers with a common platform to help simplify the management of a variety of mobile devices.”

The single web-based console is being designed to provide IT administrators with a simple and efficient way to distribute software and manage policies, inventory, security and services for BlackBerry devices, as well as other mobile devices. IT administrators will be able to manage devices over-the-air, including activating devices, distributing software and applications, locking or wiping devices, enforcing and resetting device passwords, setting IT policies, and managing optional mobile applications for end users. Certain features are expected to remain exclusive to BlackBerry devices because such capabilities are built into the design of a device’s operating system. Examples include RIM’s industry-leading push technology, network and data usage efficiency, behind-the-firewall access to enterprise applications and systems, and many of the over 550 IT policies available through BlackBerry Enterprise Server.  The recently-released BlackBerry® Balance™ technology (see separate press release issued today), which supports the use of a single smartphone for both work and personal purposes without compromising the security of corporate content or the privacy of personal content, will also remain exclusive to BlackBerry devices.

 Overall, as is largely understood in the enterprise market today, organizations can expect a range of security, manageability and controls depending on different device platform capabilities, with some devices further limited by the design of their operating system.

 The multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution will be comprised of optional architectural components based on the configuration of an organization’s mobile deployment and their operational needs. Optional components will include BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express for BlackBerry devices, and a separate, secure device management server for Android and iOS devices (based on the foundation of ubi-Suite from ubitexx). It will be possible to deploy multiple components in a virtualized environment on a single server.

 Note: Registration for a product preview of the ubitexx solution is open today at  www.ubitexx.com/preview.

 The multi-platform BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is planned for general availability later this year.

 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. 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.

###

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. 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.

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RIM Announces BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5 with Voice Over Wi-Fi Calling for Avaya and Legacy Nortel Communications Systems

VoIP and SIP Compatible Platform Enables Integration with More In-Market and Legacy Phone Systems; Extends BlackBerry MVS to Unified Communications Application Development

 

CaribPR Wire, Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM, TSX: RIM) is helping more businesses bring together the desk phone and smartphone. RIM today announced plans to make  BlackBerry® Mobile Voice System 5 (BlackBerry MVS 5) available to more corporate phone systems and unified communications applications. BlackBerry MVS 5 with voice over Wi-Fi® calling will soon be available for Avaya Aura® 6.1, Avaya CS1000 Communication Server, as well as legacy phone systems such as Avaya Communications Manager and Nortel Communication Server. It is also currently available for Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Cisco Call Manager Express, and Mitel Communications Director. BlackBerry MVS 5 has also been re-architected to be more extensible with third party applications and phone systems.

 ”Working with RIM, Avaya customers have expanded options to increase their mobile productivity,” said Eric Rossman, vice president, Developer Relations and Alliances, Avaya. ”By using BlackBerry Mobile Voice System 5 with Avaya Aura and Avaya CS1000, enterprises can more fully exploit investments previously made in BlackBerry solutions to benefit their IT organizations, end users and customers.” 

 BlackBerry MVS unifies corporate phone systems with wireless communications allowing employees to cost effectively make and take desk phone calls practically anywhere in the world on their BlackBerry smartphones. BlackBerry MVS 5 supports calls over cellular or Wi-Fi networks with automatic, prompted or manual handoff between these networks based on employee or administrator preferences. Employees can make and take desk phone calls on their BlackBerry smartphone directly from the same phone interface they use for cellular calls and enjoy the convenience of single number reach, extension dialing, and phone system features like hold, transfer and ad-hoc conferencing.  Calls are routed through the company’s phone system, with a set of IT policies and controls for administrators to set least-cost routing for savings on long-distance and international roaming charges. Call routing through the corporate phone system also helps with adherence to company policies and regulatory compliance requirements.

 “Using the right communication medium at the right time, whether it’s an email, an instant message or a phone call, is important to success in business, and voice communications through BlackBerry Mobile Voice System can play a fundamental role in providing a secure and cost-effective unified communications experience for mobile workers,” said Jim Tobin, senior vice president, software & services at Research In Motion. “We are pleased to extend BlackBerry MVS to more corporate phone system brands like Avaya and Nortel and make BlackBerry MVS available to more businesses.”

 Businesses, Healthcare and Government Embrace BlackBerry MVS

 Businesses and government organizations are increasingly embracing BlackBerry MVS as an enterprise-grade unified communications solution as they adopt new work practices and evolve business processes across their organizations. BlackBerry MVS is also particularly popular in hospitals and healthcare facilities where doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals are highly mobile on-site and require an effective way to reach staff and respond quickly.

 LTT Vending Group, the largest independently-owned vending company for refreshment services in the United Kingdom, is a good example of an organization using BlackBerry MVS to increase the professionalism and productivity of their mobile workforce. With more than 80 percent of their workforce equipped with BlackBerry smartphones, and 25 percent of those currently set up with BlackBerry MVS, LTT Vending is projecting reduced telecommunication charges by at least one third with BlackBerry MVS.

 Enabling Flexible Work Scenarios and an Increasingly Mobile Workforce

 The introduction of voice over Wi-Fi calling with version 5 is also opening up new opportunities for businesses to securely and cost effectively connect their mobile work force, embrace flexible work scenarios such as telecommuting, and advance the agility and responsiveness of their organizations by enabling employees to be more accessible while away from their desks.

 Organizations are embracing opportunities presented by BlackBerry MVS in a number of work scenarios, including:

 -          One BlackBerry Smartphone for Both Work and Personal Phone Calls with Separate Bills – Companies can allow employees to use company-owned BlackBerry smartphones for personal phone calls, or personal BlackBerry smartphones for work phone calls, while keeping the bills separate and company phone calls managed with BlackBerry MVS. The cell number can be used for personal while the BlackBerry MVS number can be used for business. Separate and distinct ring tones identify calls as work or personal. Also importantly, employers keep the work phone number if an employee leaves, thereby preserving control of incoming calls from customers, business partners and other parties that are relevant to the business.

 -          Desk Phone Alternative – A BlackBerry smartphone with BlackBerry MVS provides common capabilities of a desk phone and can be used as a wireless extension of a desk phone or even as an alternative to a desk phone for highly mobile employees such as sales staff.

 -          On-Campus Wi-Fi Only Desk Phone Extensions – BlackBerry MVS can also be used to deploy Wi-Fi-only BlackBerry smartphones for Wi-Fi-enabled multi-campus operations or for employees who are highly mobile in a Wi-Fi-enabled building or campus and who do not require cellular service. Examples include doctors and nurses in hospitals, customer service staff in hotels, and workers in manufacturing.

 -          Telecommuting – Employees who work from home and are set up with a home Wi-Fi network can use BlackBerry MVS on their BlackBerry smartphone for low-cost access over Wi-Fi to the corporate phone system without the need for a work-based landline or cellular line in some cases.

 Extensible Architecture Makes BlackBerry MVS Available to More Phone Systems; Enables Integration with Unified Communications Applications

 BlackBerry MVS 5 has been re-architected to be more extensible with third party applications and phone systems via SIP and VoIP gateways. A standards compliant and scalable VoIP gateway from AudioCodes has been added to BlackBerry MVS 5 to connect legacy and newer versions of Avaya and Nortel phone systems. A Universal SIP connector has also been added to the latest version of BlackBerry MVS to allow other phone system vendors to mobilize their IP-based offerings with BlackBerry MVS. Mitel® was the first phone system vendor to use the Universal SIP connector to build interoperability with BlackBerry MVS with its launch of Mitel Mobility for BlackBerry MVS 5. Vocera Communications also uses this direct SIP connection between the Vocera® communications system and the BlackBerry MVS 5 platform to support the Vocera Connect Wi-Fi BlackBerry client. In addition, a direct SIP connection was used to extend BlackBerry MVS 5 to Cisco phone systems.

 For More Information …

 BlackBerry MVS 5 is currently available from RIM and various resellers in the US and EMEA. To find a local reseller, or for more information, visit www.blackberry.com/mvs.

 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. 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.

###

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.

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RIM Introduces New BlackBerry Bold Smartphones

 New BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 Smartphones are the Thinnest and Most Powerful BlackBerry Smartphones yet, Featuring the Renowned BlackBerry Keyboard Together with a Brilliant Touch Screen and  the New BlackBerry 7 OS 

9900Bold_blk_ENG_Front_NoShadow

 

CaribPR Wire, Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today unveiled two new BlackBerry® Bold™ smartphones. The high-performance BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones feature a stunning and iconic design that integrates an incredibly easy-to-use BlackBerry keyboard with a brilliant, high resolution, capacitive touch screen. These exceptional smartphones are built on a new, performance-driven platform powered by the BlackBerry® 7 operating system and designed to deliver the ultimate in communications, multimedia and productivity for users around the world.

 ”The new BlackBerry Bold smartphones and BlackBerry 7 OS are inspired by millions of customers around the world who want the ultimate combination of performance, functionality and style,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion. “These fully-loaded and beautifully crafted smartphones offer a highly refined user experience with blazingly fast performance, a brilliant touch screen and an outstanding typing experience.” 

Thin, Sleek, Iconic Design

Distinguished by an iconic design and the industry’s best keyboard, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones feature the premium materials and finishes that characterize the BlackBerry Bold line. Both models have a lustrous exterior with a brushed stainless steel frame and a high-gloss glass-weave backplate. They are also the thinnest BlackBerry smartphones yet, at only 10.5mm. The quality materials and optimized design of the new BlackBerry Bold smartphones are instantly evident when held in the hand.

 Performance-Driven

These BlackBerry Bold smartphones are built on a new performance-driven platform featuring a 1.2 GHz processor, Liquid Graphics™ touch screen, and support for high speed 4G/HSPA+ wide area wireless networks.

 The Liquid Graphics touch screen, a key new feature powered by BlackBerry 7, delivers fast, smooth performance for highly responsive touch-based navigation, web browsing, pictures, video and graphics intensive games*. Offering up to 60 frames-per-second performance with instant UI action/response, Liquid Graphics gives customers a visually rich and immersive experience that’s responsive to the touch. In addition, the smartphones feature brilliant displays with an eye-popping 287 dpi to deliver crisp, stunning visuals.

 The new platform also provides support for 4G networks; the 9900 supports HSPA+ connectivity, and the 9930 supports CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and HSPA+ global roaming on GSM/UMTS networks.

NFC

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones include built-in support for NFC (Near Field Communications), a new technology that will enable many rich and exciting experiences. Through NFC, users will be able to, for example, pair the BlackBerry Bold to an accessory or read information such as a web link from smart tags by simply tapping their BlackBerry Bold to an NFC tag (eg. Smart Poster).

 Augmented Reality

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones feature a built-in compass (magnetometer) to support location-based services and augmented reality. APIs will allow third party developers to take advantage of the new functionality within their applications. The new smartphones will also include Wikitude, the leader in mobile augmented reality, which overlays contextual information on what the user sees through the smartphone’s camera viewfinder.

 HD Video

The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones support up to 720p HD video recording and playback. Users can easily share their videos directly from the smartphone or sync videos, as well as music and photos, to their computer using Media Sync in the BlackBerry® Desktop Software.

 

BlackBerry 7

The BlackBerry 7 OS is designed to power the new performance-driven BlackBerry Bold platform. It provides an easier and faster user experience with improved browsing, voice-activated searches, the ability to manage personal content separately from corporate content, as well as additional personal and productivity apps out of the box.

 

The BlackBerry Browser has been significantly enhanced in BlackBerry 7. In addition to the general performance gains of Liquid Graphics, which helps deliver faster rendering and seamless panning and zooming, the BlackBerry 7 browser includes a new JIT (just in time) JavaScript compiler to improve the load time speed of web pages. The new browser also includes support for additional HTML5 elements, such as HTML5 Video.

 

Building upon the Universal Search feature introduced in BlackBerry 6, BlackBerry 7 expands the capability to include voice-activated search. This new capability makes it even easier and more convenient to search for content on the smartphone or web.

 BlackBerry 7 also integrates BlackBerry® Balance™, which separates personal content from corporate content on the smartphone, giving users the freedom and flexibility to use the handset for personal email, Facebook®, Twitter®, multimedia, games and other apps while satisfying the very real need for corporate data to be highly secure and manageable. BlackBerry Balance works in conjunction with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server 5.0.3, which provides a number of unique IT policy controls such as wiping only corporate data from the handset or blocking work related content and apps from being copied or forwarded to personal contacts.

 With BlackBerry 7 on the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones, users will also get the full version of Docs To Go® with all “premium” features enabled out-of-the-box so that users can easily work with Word, Excel and PowerPoint files directly on the smartphone. Docs To Go also includes a native PDF viewer.

 Availability

The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones are expected to be available from carriers around the world beginning this summer.

 For additional information please visit www.blackberry.com/touchbold

APPENDIX

BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 Specifications

  • 115 x 66 x 10.5 mm, approximately 130 g
  • 2.8″ capacitive touch screen display – VGA (640×480), 287 dpi resolution
  • Ultra-easy QWERTY keyboard, optical trackpad
  • 1.2 GHz Processor, 768 MB RAM
  • 8 GB on-board memory, plus microSD slot supporting up to 32 GB cards
  • NFC technology
  • 5.0 MP camera, supports 720p HD video recording
  • Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer), Digital Compass (Magnetometer), Proximity Sensor
  • Built-in GPS / aGPS
  • Dual-Band Wi-Fi® – 802.11 b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and 802.11 a/n at 5 GHz
  • Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR support
  • Wireless Network support:
    • 9900: Tri-Band HSPA+, Quad-Band GSM/EDGE
    • 9930: Dual-Band CDMA/EV-DO Rev. A, Dual-Band HSPA+, Quad-Band GSM/EDGE
  • 1230 mAh removable, rechargeable battery
  • BlackBerry 7 OS

* Features OpenGL 2.0 support for developers.

 About Research In Motion

Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. 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.

 

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws.  When used herein, words such as “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”,  “may”,  “will”, “should”, “intend,” “believe”, and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances.  Many factors could cause RIM’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of RIM’s Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov).  These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM’s forward-looking statements.  RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

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 obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.

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RIM Announces New Facebook App for BlackBerry PlayBook

 

CaribPR Wire, Waterloo, ON – Following on the success of the Facebook for BlackBerry® smartphones app,  Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced  Facebook for BlackBerry® PlayBook™ — a new app that delivers popular features of Facebook, optimized for the 7″ high resolution, multi-touch LCD display of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

 ”There are over 30 million users of our Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones app who are staying in touch with their social network while on the go,” said Tom Goguen, VP, Collaboration and Social Networking at Research In Motion, “Now with Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook we can also offer customers highly engaging social experiences optimized for the PlayBook including the ability to share Facebook pictures and videos with friends and family on an HDTV.”

 Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook offers users a highly engaging experience by integrating popular features and functionality of Facebook including;

  • View and add Friends – Users can interact with friends quickly and easily: find friends by scanning the new grid view of their profile pictures; search for and add new friends and manage new friend requests; browse their profiles, photos and videos; view and interact with wall posts; view key information on profiles and pages; and view, comment and ‘like’ photos on profiles and pages. 
  • Enjoy seamless photo and video viewing – Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook makes it easy to upload photos from the BlackBerry PlayBook Picture Library, tag friends in photos, view comments, tags and likes.  The BlackBerry PlayBook can also be connected to an HD TV to display photos and videos at a whole new level in full 1080p HD.
  • Connect with friends using Facebook Chat – On the BlackBerry PlayBook screen, users can enjoy side-by-side viewing of online contacts and active conversations. Notifications of new Chat messages are displayed on the Notifications Bar, so users can quickly and easily read and respond to new Chat messages while browsing friends’ profiles, viewing their pictures or reading their status updates.
  • View and interact with the News Feed – Users will be able to browse highlights such as photo uploads and status updates and seamlessly view links in the BlackBerry PlayBook browser.  They will also be able to “Comment” and “Like” to discuss and show appreciation for friends’ content, as well as publish a status update or upload a photo from the status publisher accessible from their Profile or from within the News Feed.

 The Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook application will be showcased this week at BlackBerry World 2011 (www.blackberryworld.com) in Orlando, FL and is expected to be available on BlackBerry App World™ in May. 

 About Research In Motion

Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. 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.

                                                                                                                                                                            ###

 

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws.  When used herein, words such as “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”,  “may”,  “will”, “should”, “intend,” “believe”, and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances.  Many factors could cause RIM’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of RIM’s Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov).  These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM’s forward-looking statements.  RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 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 obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.

Click Here for More Information »

RIM Announces New Video Chat Application for the BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet

Allows BlackBerry PlayBook users to easily share special moments with friends and family

CaribPR Wire, Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the availability of the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ Video Chat application – an easy and fun way for friends and family to place and receive video calls between BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablets over an internet connected Wi-Fi® network.

“BlackBerry is a renowned mobile communication solution for connecting users to the people and information that matter most throughout their day,” said Tom Goguen, VP, Collaboration and Social Networking at Research In Motion (RIM). “With the BlackBerry PlayBook Video Chat application we are excited to be enabling our customers to share important moments and events with family and friends via video calls.  With the BlackBerry PlayBook’s high-resolution video cameras and stunning display, a Video Chat call is the next best thing to being there.”

 Key features of the PlayBook Video Chat application include:

  • One-Click Video and Voice over Wi-Fi Calls – with just one click users can make a call from their Video Chat contact list, log of recent calls or simply by entering the BBID email address of the person they want to call.
  • Incoming Call Notifications – users will receive a notification pop-up when a new video call comes in, allowing them to accept the call as either a video or voice call, or decline the call. For those quiet moments – such as when while watching a movie or playing a game -users will also have the ability to simply set the “Do Not Disturb” option and the BlackBerry PlayBook will automatically ignore all incoming calls.
  • Powerful In-Call Functions – by using the picture-in-picture function users can easily preview their own video image prior to placing the call in order to see what will be displayed on the other end. They can also easily switch cameras from front to rear so their friends can see what they are seeing, and for private moments users can mute/unmute audio or make or take calls using voice only.
  • Friends List – BlackBerry PlayBook Video Chat comes complete with a Friends List for maintaining your favorite contacts. A picture can easily be added to a contact to personalize the entry and a Call Log makes it simple to keep track of received and missed calls.

 The BlackBerry PlayBook Video Chat application will be showcased this week at BlackBerry World 2011 (www.blackberryworld.com) in Orlando FL.  It is expected to be available on May 3 and will be distributed to existing BlackBerry PlayBook customers through an over-the-air software update and will also be available on BlackBerry App World™. 

 About Research In Motion

Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. 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.

###

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws.  When used herein, words such as “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”,  “may”,  “will”, “should”, “intend,” “believe”, and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances.  Many factors could cause RIM’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of RIM’s Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov).  These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM’s forward-looking statements.  RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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 obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.

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RIM Launches BlackBerry Balance for Work-Life Balance on BlackBerry

                      Unifies Work and Personal Use of BlackBerry Smartphones without Compromising Company Security or Personal Privacy

 CaribPR Wire, Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) is advancing work-life balance on BlackBerry® smartphones with BlackBerry® Balance™ – new technology that makes possible the convenience of using a single BlackBerry smartphone for both work and personal purposes without compromising the security of company content and the privacy of personal content.  RIM is introducing this technology in response to the growing trend by businesses to allow employees to use personal BlackBerry smartphones for work, or company-owned smartphones for personal, and the need by businesses to secure, manage and control confidential company or client information on these devices.

 “BlackBerry Balance is a win-win for employers and employees,” said Jim Tobin, senior vice president, software and services at Research In Motion. “It’s a secure and cost-effective way for companies to keep employees connected and productive, while also allowing the flexibility for employees to carry a single phone.”

 BlackBerry Balance presents a unified view of work and personal content on a BlackBerry smartphone while keeping the content separate and secure. The division between work and personal content is transparent to the user unless they try to perform actions prohibited by company policy. IT administrators can set policies via BlackBerry® Enterprise Server or BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express. These policy settings can enable the following:

  • Secure access to business information while preventing the information from being copied into, sent from or used by personal applications like Facebook®, Twitter®, Windows Live™ Hotmail, Google Mail™ or Yahoo!® Mail accounts.
  • Business data or files created by business applications cannot be used by personal applications.
  • If a user attempts an action that is prohibited by IT policy, a notification is displayed on the device.
  • If an employee leaves the organization, an administrator can remotely wipe business information from the device while leaving personal information intact.
  • If a device is lost or stolen, an administrator can wipe all information from the device to help ensure that sensitive business information and the user’s personal information don’t fall into the wrong hands.

 BlackBerry Balance is available only on BlackBerry devices and can be applied to employee- or company-owned smartphones. It is built into BlackBerry® Enterprise Server 5.0.3 and BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Express 5.0.3 (available this week) for Microsoft® Exchange® or IBM® Lotus® Domino®. It also requires the latest version of BlackBerry® 6 Device Software*.

 For more information, visit www.blackberry.com/balance.

 *Check with wireless service provider for availability. 

About Research In Motion

 Research In Motion (RIM), a global leader in wireless innovation, revolutionized the mobile industry with the introduction of the BlackBerry® solution in 1999. Today, BlackBerry products and services are used by millions of customers around the world to stay connected to the people and content that matter most throughout their day. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. 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.

 

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws.  When used herein, words such as “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”,  “may”,  “will”, “should”, “intend,” “believe”, and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances.  Many factors could cause RIM’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of RIM’s Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov).  These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM’s forward-looking statements.  RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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 obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party products or services.

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The Perfect Bundle For A Mother's Day And Beyond

                 BlackBerry smartphones and the right accessories are a unique gift that simplifies mom’s life and keep family, friends and co-workers connected

CaribPR Wire, MIAMI, FL, Fri. April 29, 2011: Smartphones such as the new BlackBerry® Torch™ 9800 and the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8520 are modern, sophisticated and easy to use for today’s moms. With its full touch screen and BlackBerry® keyboard, the latest member of the BlackBerry family makes you look better even while on the move. Together with a stylish skin or leather folio, including vanity mirror, you will always be good to go.  Pouch-White-Pink

 On a day to day basis, BlackBerry smartphones can help moms quickly find out about reminders from their kids’ schools, and communicate with friends and family through BlackBerry Messenger (BBM). They can also work from home as if they had the office in their hands, thanks to email access, Internet and other work tools. And for those who enjoy using social networks, they will love applications like Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones or Facebook for BlackBerry smartphones. 

For fun and sophisticated mothers: BlackBerry Torch 9800

RIM-BlackBerry Torch-9800-General-Front-Open

Entertain mom with a BlackBerry® Torch™ 9800 smartphone, the first smartphone in the world to combine a BlackBerry keyboard with a complete touch screen experience. With the BlackBerry Torch moms can communicate with loved ones: they can chose to write messages through the touch screen or through the BlackBerry keyboard, navigate the internet using their fingertips to zoom-in or zoom-out, or through the use of the trackpad. The BlackBerry Torch is the first smartphone to be launched that features BlackBerry 6, the new operating system that provides a new experience, accessible and attractive, as well as powerful and easy-to-use.

 For modern moms: BlackBerry Curve 8520 smartphone 

RIM-BlackBerry Curve 8520-Front

If moms have the BlackBerry® Curve™ 8520 smartphone on Mother’s Day they will realize life can be easier.   They will have easy access to email, messaging services (SMS, MMS and instant messaging) and social networks (Including BBM, Facebook® and MySpace), in addition to resources such as the full-QWERTY keyboard that guarantees precision while typing and sending messages to loved ones any place in the world. This device offers easy and practical ways to control audio and video with its multimedia keys.      

Skins-Red-White

Please verify with your local mobile carrier the availability of different device colors and skins.

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Algonquin and Emera announce a Strategic Investment Agreement and the transfer of California Utility to Algonquin

OAKVILLE, Ontario, and HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — (TSX: AQN) Algonquin Power and Utilities Corp (Algonquin) and (TSX: EMA) Emera Inc. (Emera) announced today that they have entered into a strategic investment agreement (The Agreement) which establishes how Algonquin and Emera will work together to pursue specific strategic investments of mutual benefit. The Agreement builds on the strategic partnership effectively established between the two companies in April 2009.

 The Agreement outlines “areas of pursuit” for each of Algonquin and Emera. For Algonquin, these include investment opportunities relating to unregulated renewable generation, small electric utilities and gas distribution utilities. For Emera, these include investment opportunities related to regulated renewable projects within its service territories and large electric utilities. In respect of opportunities encountered by either Algonquin or Emera that fit within the other’s business development “areas of pursuit”, they are committed to working together on such opportunities.

 Consistent with the framework established by the Agreement, Emera has agreed to sell its 49.999% direct ownership in the California Pacific Electric Company (”CalPeco”) to Algonquin, subject to California regulatory approval. As consideration Emera will receive 8.211 million Algonquin shares in two tranches. Approximately half of the shares will be issued following regulatory approval of the Calpeco ownership transfer and the balance of the shares will be issued following completion of Calpeco’s first rate case which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2012.

 As an element of the Agreement, Emera’s allowed common equity interest in Algonquin will be increased from 15% to 25%. Algonquin will seek shareholder approval at its upcoming annual and special general meeting currently scheduled for June 21, 2011.

 ”This agreement provides clarity and transparency to a business relationship which has existed between Algonquin and Emera for the past two years and is intended to maximize shareholder value for both parties by capitalizing on our respective strengths,” commented Ian Robertson, Chief Executive Officer of Algonquin. “The acquisition by Algonquin of 100% of the CalPeco utility business is consistent with these themes and builds upon the successes achieved to date between Algonquin and Emera.”

 ”Emera and Algonquin have worked well together since 2009,” said Chris Huskilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Emera Inc. “Given Algonquin’s successful independent power history and expertise, it makes good sense for Emera to focus its investments in the development, ownership and operation of unregulated renewable electric generating facilities through Algonquin.”

 Cautionary Statement

 This news release contains forward looking information. Actual future results may differ materially. Additional financial and operational information regarding Emera and Algonquin is filed electronically with various securities commissions in Canada through the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR).

 About Emera Inc.

 Emera Inc. is a growing energy and services company with $6.3 billion in assets and revenues of $1.6 billion. The company invests in electricity generation, transmission and distribution, as well as gas transmission and utility energy services. Emera’s strategy is focused on the transformation of the electricity industry to cleaner generation and the delivery of that clean energy to market. Emera operates throughout northeastern North America, in three Caribbean countries and in California. More than 80% of the company’s earnings come from regulated investments. Emera common and preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade under the symbols EMA and EMA.PR.A respectively. Additional information can be accessed at www.emera.com, www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov.

About Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.

Through its distinct operating subsidiaries, APUC owns and operates a diversified portfolio of $1.1 billion of clean renewable electric generation and sustainable utility distribution businesses in North America. Liberty Water Co., APUC’s water utility subsidiary, provides regulated water utility services to more than 73,000 customers with a portfolio of 19 water distribution and wastewater treatment utility systems and has entered into agreements to acquire additional utility systems serving 7,400 customers. Through its wholly owned subsidiary Liberty Energy Utilities Co., APUC provides regulated electricity and natural gas distribution services, currently serving more than 47,000 electric customers in the Lake Tahoe, CA area. Pursuant to previously announced agreements, Liberty Energy Utilities Co. is committed to acquiring Granite State Electric Company, a New Hampshire electric distribution company, and EnergyNorth Natural Gas Inc., a regulated natural gas distribution utility, which together serve approximately 130,000 customers. Algonquin Power Co., APUC’s electric generation subsidiary, includes 45 renewable energy facilities and 12 thermal energy facilities representing more than 460 MW of installed capacity. APUC and its operating subsidiaries deliver continuing growth through an expanding pipeline of greenfield and expansion renewable power and clean energy projects, organic growth within its regulated utilities and the pursuit of accretive acquisition opportunities. APUC’s common shares and convertible debentures are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols AQN, AQN.DB, AQN.DB.A and AQN.DB.B. Visit Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. on the web at www.AlgonquinPowerandUtilities.com and www.sedar.com.

For further information: For further information: Emera Investor Relations: Jill MacDonald, Manager Investor Relations, 902-489-6876; Emera Media Contact: Sasha Irving, Director Corporate Communications, 902-229-5104; Algonquin Contact: David Bronicheski, Chief Financial Officer, 905-465-4512

 (EMA.)

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BlackBerry WebWorks SDK 2.0 for Tablet OS and Smartphones, and BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK for Adobe AIR Now Available

CaribPR Wire, Miami, FL, Tues. April 19, 2011: Today RIM has made two important introductions for developers: the BlackBerry WebWorks SDK 2.0 for Tablet OS and Smartphones, and the final version of its BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK for Adobe AIR.

 The BlackBerry WebWorks SDK 2.0 for Tablet OS and Smartphones

 With this release, the following changes are introduced:

 * JavaScript APIs are now separated from the OS. This new architecture will allow developers to easily modify and enhance the existing APIs and package them with their BlackBerry WebWorks application. It will also simplify adding new APIs to applications.

 * The BlackBerry WebWorks framework and all of the APIs are open sourced and are available on GitHub! Developers can now contribute and participate in the evolution of the BlackBerry WebWorks project.

 These changes meet developers’ needs for ease of development, flexibility and choice. This important update positively impacts broad categories of developers including new and established developers. They can take advantage of the BlackBerry WebWorks SDK support for web standard technologies (HTML5, CSS3, Java Script) to build rich, well integrated standalone BlackBerry applications. Once developed, these apps can be fully integrated into the BlackBerry ecosystem, and distributed and monetized via BlackBerry App World. Furthermore, there is no need for developers to learn native programming languages to build mobile applications; they can simply use their existing web skills to build amazing BlackBerry apps.

 To streamline development work even further, RIM has aligned the versioning of the two platforms so that developers can easily create and deploy applications on the BlackBerry WebWorks SDK for Tablet OS and Smartphones – making the best of both worlds.

 BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK for Adobe AIR

 Today RIM has also introduced the final version of its BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK for Adobe AIR which includes the following changes:

 - Special APIs for the BlackBerry PlayBook Plugins for Adobe Flash Builder

- A BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet Simulator

- A Getting Started Guide

 With this update of the BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK for Adobe AIR, RIM gives developers the opportunity to leverage a strong competitive advantage, the Adobe AIR technology’s capability to enable developers to share code across multiple platforms, thereby offering them the benefit of a wide choice of development environments.

 These landmark updates from RIM coincide with the BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet’s availability in stores in North America today and they further empower developers to create amazing applications on this device.

 To find out more about these updates and download the latest SDKs go to http://us.blackberry.com/developers/tablet/webworks.jsp for BlackBerry WebWorks SDK for Tablet OS, http://us.blackberry.com/developers/browserdev/widgetsdk.jsp for BlackBerry WebWorks SDK for Smartphones and http://us.blackberry.com/developers/tablet/adobe.jsp for BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK for Adobe AIR.

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Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones v1.1 is out of beta and will be available in BlackBerry App World

CaribPR Wire, MIAMI, FL, Weds. April 13, 2011: BlackBerry smartphone users can now add locations to their tweets by enabling the ‘Add location to tweet’ feature in the Options menu.  Once enabled, simply click the new compass icon on the Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones Home screen to add your current location.

 The updated release also includes beta user requested features like push @Mentions, #Topic Autocomplete, and ‘Retweeted by you’ indicators, as well as several other enhancements based on feedback received during the beta.

Users can download BlackBerry App World for free through www.blackberry.com/appworld. More information on this launch is available at the Inside BlackBerry Blog (http://blogs.blackberry.com/2011/04/twitter-for-blackberry).

 twitter

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Blackberry Travel App Is Now Available In Most Caribbean Markets

CaribPR Wire, MIAMI, FL, Weds. April 6, 2011: BlackBerry® Travel™, an application that provides BlackBerry® smartphone users with an all-in-one integrated tool to plan, book, manage and share travel activities quickly and easily, is now available in the major markets of the Caribbean.

The new app was recently announced in February at MWC 2011 in Barcelona and is now ready for download for BlackBerry users in the following markets: Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Bahamas, Aruba, Cayman Islands, Virgin Islands and US Virgin Islands.

The BlackBerry Travel app offers convenient push notifications and seamless integration of travel itineraries and flight status updates into the familiar BlackBerry Calendar.  When a new booking confirmation or itinerary arrives in the user’s email inbox, the BlackBerry Travel app is automatically updated with the relevant itinerary details, which makes travel planning and management easier than ever. With the BlackBerry push technology, the BlackBerry Travel app can keep users informed and in control of their itineraries by monitoring flight statuses and promptly providing notifications about changes to their flight information. The app can even identify potential omissions or scheduling concerns with their itineraries, such as missing accommodations or timing conflicts, and provide users with suggestions.

The BlackBerry Travel app also brings together tools that travelers need while planning on the go, including:

  • Hotel booking
  • Currency converters
  • Weather forecasts
  • Local search functionality

In addition, BlackBerry smartphone users can share their travel information with colleagues, friends and family over email or through LinkedIn®, directly from the BlackBerry Travel app. The LinkedIn integration allows users to search for people in their network who will be in the same city, send messages to contacts and update their status.

The BlackBerry Travel app also features a web component that allows users to book flights and car rentals, as well as edit and print itineraries, from their computer.

The BlackBerry Travel app was built in collaboration with WorldMate, a leader in mobile travel platforms.  WorldMate and RIM are working together with leaders in the travel industries such as Continental Airlines, Expedia Affiliate Network, Hilton Worldwide, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, United Airlines to provide BlackBerry Travel app users with an amazing mobile experience.

The BlackBerry Travel app will be available as of today from BlackBerry App World™ (www.blackberry.com/appworld). The app is free and works on select BlackBerry smartphones running the BlackBerry® 5 OS (Device Software) or higher.* For more information please visit www.blackberry.com/travel

* BlackBerry Travel is available at launch for the BlackBerry® Bold™, BlackBerry® Curve™, BlackBerry® Storm™ and BlackBerry® Torch™ series of smartphones.

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