Blackberry 1999 Annual Report Download - page 9

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Building on its core radio technology, RIM has a leading software team
that focuses on integrating RIM’s products with wireless data networks,
desktop personal computers, corporate networks, and the Internet. RIM
also has a team dedicated to making it easy for other people to write
programs and applications that work well on RIM’s products.
The two main product platforms that have been built around RIM’s
technology are the Wireless Handheld Appliance platform and the
OEM Radio platform. The latest products released as wireless handheld
appliances were the Inter@ctive Pager 950 and 850 (collectively referred
to as the Inter@ctive Pager). RIM has several different OEM radio
products that are currently being shipped.
Wireless Handheld Appliances
The Inter@ctive Pager is sold through several channels to diverse
markets. Using the same hardware platform, different software
applications are used to offer different functionality.
TWO-WAY PAGING
One of the emerging markets for RIM’s devices is two-way paging. Many
companies are focusing on the anticipated need to upgrade the nearly
50 million one-way paging users in North America alone. BellSouth
and American Mobile in the United States and Cantel in Canada have
combined the Inter@ctive Pager with custom software created by RIM to
offer a two-way paging solution. The device has its own stand-alone email
address and operates separately from any other email accounts that the
user might have.
This target market for RIM’s products is made up of one-way paging
users who want the functionality of two-way messaging without any
trade-offs in size, cost, coverage, or battery life. Network operators
distribute this solution through direct corporate sales people, through
their own wireless retail outlets, through indirect retail stores, and now
through other large, one-way paging suppliers.
PageNet, the largest paging supplier in the United States, will be
offering its customers two-way paging using RIM handhelds over the
BellSouth network. SkyTel, which previously offered Motorola and
Glenayre products exclusively to its customers, will be offering RIM
handhelds operating over the American Mobile ARDIS network. Pricing
for the service is expected to be based on usage, with entry level
7
Panasonic Buys RIM’s
OEM Modems for
CF-25 Ruggedized Notebook
Computers – March, 1998
Mobile Integrated
Technologies Buys RIM OEM
Modems for Vehicle-based
Communications Products
– April, 1998
RIM Receives Technology
Partnerships Canada
Funding for R&D
– May, 1998