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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Nextel and RIM Announce Plans to Extend Nextel's Industry Leading Wireless Location Applications
MIAMI -- Dec. 9, 2004 --
Nextel Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:NXTL) and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq:RIMM; TSX:RIM) today announced plans to enable location-based services on the BlackBerry(R) platform.
RIM and Nextel are providing Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and developers with the comprehensive resources and environment to support location-enhanced applications including the GPS-enabled devices, network, services, infrastructure and development tools needed to create and deliver powerful mobile applications. This support allows developers to create new applications, incorporating navigation, location and tracking services together with the unique connectivity features of BlackBerry including always-on operation, push-based services, advanced security and back-end integration. Customers will also enjoy the combined power and benefits of wireless email, phone, Direct Connect Services, messaging, browser and GPS technologies in a single device.
"We believe that location-based services will add a complementary and powerful dimension to the BlackBerry experience and open many new opportunities for RIM and Nextel to engage and support customers and the development community," said Mark Guibert, vice president, corporate marketing, at Research in Motion. "The combination of location-based services and BlackBerry Mobile Data Service provide a particularly powerful foundation for developers to leverage and we believe a wide range of applications and solutions are suitable from navigation to fleet management to continuity planning to field service to supply chain management to public safety."
"The need to better manage company assets, combined with what is an increasingly mobile workforce makes location based services an important business requirement," said Danny Bowman, vice president, wireless data services, Nextel. "The combination of the BlackBerry handheld and location based services can help improve business efficiency by providing the ability to determine the location of employees, a company's vehicles and inventory."
To encourage design of location-based applications for the BlackBerry platform, RIM and Nextel are announcing a Nextel Java Developer Contest at the Nextel Developers Conference, December 9-10, in Miami. Developers can create location-based applications for the recently introduced, GPS-enabled BlackBerry 7520(TM). For additional information on the BlackBerry 7520 Java Developers Challenge, including entry forms and full contest rules visit http://developer.nextel.com.
Existing and new BlackBerry ISV Alliance partners have already started developing an array of applications that will include, but not be limited to, services that will provide:
Navigation for audible and visual real-time driving directions
Location data to locate company assets and field employees
Tracking to better manage company vehicles and inventory and optimize routes with improved tracking and planning
About Nextel
Nextel Communications, a FORTUNE 200 company based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications services and has built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country covering thousands of communities across the United States. Today 95 percent of FORTUNE 500 companies are Nextel customers. Nextel and Nextel Partners, Inc. currently serve 297 of the top 300 U.S. markets where approximately 259 million people live or work.
About Research In Motion (RIM)
Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services with wireless connectivity to data. RIM's portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry(R) wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld(TM) product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq:RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.
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