PRESS RELEASE: RIM Unleashes BlackBerry 6
on Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Waterloo,
Ontario
– Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today
announced BlackBerry® 6, a new operating system for BlackBerry®
smartphones
that retains the trusted connectivity features that distinguish the
BlackBerry
brand while delivering a fresh, approachable and engaging experience
that is
both powerful and easy to use. BlackBerry
6 features a redesigned interface that seamlessly works with a touch
screen
and trackpad, expanded messaging capabilities that simplify managing
social
media and RSS feeds, an advanced multimedia experience that rivals the
best in
the industry, a convenient new Universal Search tool, and a new and
efficient
WebKit-based browser that renders web pages quickly and beautifully for a
great
browsing experience.
“BlackBerry
6
is the outcome of RIM’s ongoing passion to deliver a powerful,
simplified and optimized user experience for both touch screen and
keyboard
fans,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-ceo, Research In Motion.
“Following extensive research and development to address consumer needs
and wants, we are delivering a communications, browsing and multimedia
experience that we think users will love, and we are thrilled to debut
BlackBerry 6 on the amazing new BlackBerry Torch smartphone.”
Visual,
Fluid Interface
BlackBerry
6 has been redesigned making it easier and more intuitive, with clean,
sleek
visuals and natural, fluid navigation. Designed to be both fresh and
familiar,
the new interface enables a productive, fun and highly satisfying user
experience whether using a touch screen or trackpad and keyboard.
BlackBerry
6
offers multiple views that help users better organize their
applications and
content. Icons are arranged on the Home Screen in 5 customizable views
(All,
Favorites, Media, Downloads and Frequent) that are navigable with simple
swipes. Users can organize where they want their icons to appear, and
can add
contacts or web page shortcuts directly to the Home Screen.
Also
new to BlackBerry 6 are visually-rich, context-sensitive Action Menus.
Within a
given application, by clicking and holding the trackpad or through an
extended
touch of the display, users can bring the most common actions or tasks
of an
application to the surface. In addition, users can seamlessly multitask
by
holding down the Menu key, which pops up a visual grid of all the
applications
currently running, so users can instantly switch between applications.
A
powerful Universal Search tool is also accessible from the Home Screen.
By
simply clicking or tapping the Universal Search icon, users can search
for any
content on their handset, the web or in the new BlackBerry App World™,
which is also integral to BlackBerry 6.
Fast
Rich Web Browsing
BlackBerry
6 integrates a new and efficient WebKit-based browser that renders web
pages
(as well as email) quickly and beautifully for a great browsing
experience. It
features tabs for accessing multiple sites simultaneously, a double-tap
to zoom
feature that can intelligently wrap text in a column while maintaining
the
placement of a page's key elements, and pinch to zoom.
Social
Feeds and Text Messaging
The
new Social Feeds application simplifies the management of social
networking and
RSS feeds and provides integrated access to the native BlackBerry®
Messenger
(BBM™), Facebook®, Twitter™, MySpace™, AOL® Instant
Messenger™, Google Talk™, Windows Live™ Messenger and Yahoo!®
Messenger applications for BlackBerry smartphones. Social Feeds
streamlines the
user experience, provides an integrated view of friends’ activities
across multiple social networks, and let's users post updates across
multiple
networks simultaneously. Users can also easily add their favorite RSS
Feeds
from the Social Feeds application or directly from a website while
browsing.
RIM’s
new Text Messages application also adds exciting new features for users
who
communicate mostly via SMS and MMS, including the ability for users to
now view
a conversation in one threaded 'chat' as well as share photos, videos
and other
rich content.
Engaging
Multimedia Experience
The
multimedia experience in BlackBerry 6 is designed to give users a more
engaging
and streamlined experience with album art everywhere in the new music
and video
players. The new BlackBerry® Desktop Software 6 integrates media sync
for
easily syncing photos and videos as well as iTunes® and Windows Media®
Player
music with the smartphone*. It also includes Wi-Fi Music Sync, a unique
feature
that allows users to view their entire iTunes® or Windows Media® Player
music
libraries from their BlackBerry smartphone, create and edit playlists,
as well
as select music for download. When in range of their home Wi-Fi network
(or via
USB), the changes are synced with iTunes® or Windows Media® Player and
the
songs are automatically downloaded to the smartphone.
BlackBerry
6
also gives users access to a range of camera modes that can help them
capture
better images. Editing, organizing and sharing shots is amazingly
simple, with
intuitive options for grouping pictures.
The
new Podcasts application makes it easy for users to find and manage
audio and
video podcasts. Users can view all the podcasts saved on their
smartphone,
browse a catalogue of podcasts available for download, subscribe to
them, and
wirelessly download the content directly onto their smartphone. There is
also a
dedicated YouTube® application, so viewing and sharing videos is easier
than
ever and users can also easily search for videos using the new Universal
Search
tool in BlackBerry 6.
Compatibility
with Existing BlackBerry Smartphones
BlackBerry
6 will debut on the new BlackBerry® Torch™ smartphone (announced today)
available from AT&T on August 12 and it is also designed to run on
select
BlackBerry smartphones already in market. Subject to carrier
certifications in
the months ahead, the new OS is expected to be available for the
BlackBerry®
Bold™ 9700, BlackBerry® Bold™ 9650 and BlackBerry® Pearl™ 3G,
as well as future BlackBerry smartphones.
Research
In
Motion is releasing an SDK for BlackBerry 6 (also announced today).
Developers can find additional details at www.blackberry.com/developers/
For
more information on BlackBerry 6, visit www.blackberry.com/6.
To view screen shots, visit the Inside BlackBerry Blog: www.blackberry.com/blog.
For more
information about the BlackBerry Torch smartphone from AT&T, visit www.att.com/blackberrytorch.
*
Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain
digital
rights management technologies. Photo and video syncing is currently
only available
for Windows-based PCs.
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®
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 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.
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.