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IBM Expands Managed Wireless Services for BlackBerry


WEBWIRE

ORLANDO, FL - May 2008: IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM) (TSX: RIM) today announced IBM’s new hosting capabilities to support the BlackBerry(R) platform. IBM has joined the BlackBerry(R) System Integrator (SI) Alliance Program.

IBM will expand its portfolio of Managed Wireless Services for the BlackBerry platform leveraging its successful services offering that currently hosts more than 100,000 enterprise end users globally. The offering builds upon the strength of the BlackBerry® Enterprise Server product line with a far-reaching suite of services that include hosting, consulting, systems integration, and deployment of enterprise applications on the converged platform.

Ownership of wireless services in the enterprise has shifted from Procurement to the CIO. Like corporate data and telephony, the BlackBerry platform is considered by many to be fundamental to their business operations. Large organizations look to outsource these services so they can focus on their core competencies. Meanwhile, demand increases for innovative technology and infrastructure to help support the mobile Web, as wireless devices now outnumber landlines. IBM’s Institute for Business Value predicts more than one billion mobile Web users by 2011.

“We find that our enterprise clients increasingly need to extend wireless data capabilities beyond e-mail, and to leverage their enterprise investment on wireless device platforms,” said Gary Cohen, IBM’s General Manager, Global Communications Sector. “IBM’s services will facilitate the deployment and ongoing management of enterprise applications on the BlackBerry platform. We are uniquely positioned to enable our enterprise customers to do so on a large scale. As the world’s leading IT services provider we are very pleased to be offering these services and to be working with RIM, an outstanding innovative leader in the wireless data marketplace.”

“In today’s business world, BlackBerry is as essential to our organization as network connectivity, phone and e-mail. At Fluor, we count on BlackBerry to speed our decision making, help solve problems and improve execution,” said Ray Barnard, VP and CIO, Fluor Corporation. “We count on IBM to deliver this essential service and to collaborate with our business partners to innovate on new mobile applications that further our competitive advantage.”

“RIM is excited to support the expansion of IBM’s Managed Wireless Services for the BlackBerry platform,” said Jeff McDowell, Vice President, Global Alliances at Research in Motion. “RIM believes IBM’s hosted services will help extend the reach of the BlackBerry platform globally and will help customers realize the full value of enterprise mobility.”

Managing customers’ wireless applications in an increasingly mobile-centric world is a key focus of the new alliance between IBM and RIM. IBM now offers access to BlackBerry mobile applications for the full line of Web 2.0-powered Lotus collaboration and information on demand software on the market-leading BlackBerry platform.

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.

IBM and the IBM logo are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Other company, product or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.



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