IBM and RIM to Fuel Enterprise Collaboration and Social Networking on the BlackBerry Platform for Mobile Business

ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lotusphere -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the availability of rich, new social networking applications for BlackBerry smartphones.  

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By demand of their mutual customers, IBM and RIM are bringing the BlackBerry Client for IBM Lotus Quickr and a new version of the BlackBerry Client for IBM Lotus Connections to market through IBM.

The new social software offerings will be showcased at the 17th annual Lotusphere conference in Orlando, Florida this week.

According to a recent report, Gartner expects to see steep growth rates for sales of premises- and cloud-based social networking services.  As the industry moves toward the three billion phones worldwide with the purpose of providing communications and collaboration anytime and anywhere, Gartner expects more people to spend significant time using collaborative tools on these devices.*

Lotus Connections social software on BlackBerry smartphones enables mobile workers to more easily tap into their colleagues' expertise and internal knowledge bases.  Lotus Quickr software allows them to more easily collaborate on documents and files. Lotus Sametime brings secure enterprise Instant Messaging into the mix. Together these mobile apps allow workers to more easily and effectively participate on team projects while outside the office or away from their desks.

The combination of Lotus Software and the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution offers customers an unparalleled enterprise social networking and collaboration solution that can help busy professionals work smarter on the move," said Alistair Rennie, general manager, IBM Lotus Software.  "This new agreement between IBM and RIM reinforces our mutual commitment to customers."

"We are making Lotus Software easily accessible to customers that are already working through IBM sales channels," said Jeff McDowell, Senior Vice President, Alliances at Research In Motion.  "This agreement expands RIM's channels of distribution and helps us meet the growing market demand for enterprise social networking and collaboration solutions."

For close to ten years, IBM's Mobile Enterprise Services organization has managed and maintained the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution for customers. IBM delivers comprehensive services that allow IBM's clients to transform their enterprise by bringing together the power of the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution, IBM software and IBM services and support. Along with telecommunications providers around the world, IBM already provides these services to a wide range of clients worldwide.  

For more information about BlackBerry apps for Lotus software, visit www.ibm.com/lotus/mobile.

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.

*Source Gartner: Predicts 2010: Social Software Is an Enterprise Reality – December 3, 2009.

SOURCE IBM