Research In Motion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Research In Motion Limited | |
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| Type | Public TSX: RIM, NASDAQ: RIMM |
| Founded | Waterloo, Ontario (1984) |
| Headquarters |  Waterloo, Ontario, Canada |
| Key people | Mike Lazaridis, founder and co-CEO Jim Balsillie, co-CEO Dennis Kavelman, COO |
| Industry | wireless handheld communication products |
| Products | BlackBerry, Inter@ctive pager |
| Revenue |  US$6.0 billion (fiscal 2007) |
| Employees | 8,387 (Q1 2008) |
| Website | www.rim.com |
Research In Motion Limited (RIM) (TSX: RIM, NASDAQ: RIMM) is a Canadian wireless device company. It is best known as the developer of the BlackBerry handheld communication device.
RIM is headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, and is a sponsor of RIM Park in the northeast of the city. It was founded by Mike Lazaridis, who currently serves as its co-CEO along with Jim Balsillie.
RIM develops its own software for its devices, using C++ and Java technology. RIM also develops and sells embedded wireless data components.
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[edit] History
Prior to the manufacture of the BlackBerry, RIM worked with RAM Mobile Data and Ericsson to turn the Ericsson-developed Mobitex wireless data network into a two-way paging and wireless e-mail network. Pivotal in this development was the release of the Inter@ctive pager 950, which started shipping in August 2000. About the size of a bar of soap, this device competed against the SkyTel two-way paging network developed by Motorola.
RIM's early development was financed by Canadian institutional and venture capital investors in 1995 through a private placement in the then privately-held company. Working Ventures Canadian Fund Inc. led the first venture round with a $5,000,000 investment with the proceeds being used to complete the development of RIM's two-way paging system hardware and software. A total of $30,000,000 in pre-IPO financing was raised by the company prior to its initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange in January, 1998 under the symbol RIM.
Since then, RIM has released a variety of devices running on GSM, CDMA, and Motorola iDEN networks. The ubiquity of these BlackBerry devices in the corporate environment and the compulsive use of its ability to quickly send and receive e-mail has earned it the nickname "Crackberry"[citation needed] as users feel they can not live without it.
In 2007, RIM was named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers, as published in Maclean's magazine, the only wireless technology company to receive this honour.[1]
[edit] Patent litigation
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Since the turn of the century, RIM has been embroiled in a series of suits relating to alleged patent infringement. .[2]
[edit] RIM v Glenayre
In 2001, Research in Motion sued competitor Glenayre Electronics[3] Inc for patent infringement, partly in response to an earlier infringement suit filed by Glenayre against RIM. RIM sought an injunction to prevent Glenayre from infringing RIM's patents.[4] The suit was ultimately settled.
[edit] RIM v Good Technology
In June 2002, Research in Motion filed suit against 2000 start-up and competitor Good Technology[5]. RIM filed additional complaints through-out the year[6]. In March 2004, Good agreed to a licensing deal, thereby settling the outstanding litigation.[7]
[edit] RIM v Handspring
On September 16th, 2002, Research in Motion was awarded a patent pertaining to keyboard design on hand-held e-mail devices. Upon receiving the patent, it proceeded to sue Handspring over its Treo device.[8][9]. Handspring eventually agreed to license RIM's patent and avoid further litigation in November of the same year.[10]
[edit] RIM v NTP
During the appeals, RIM discovered new prior art that raised a "substantial new question of patentability" and filed for a reexamination of the patents of the NTP patents in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. That reexamination is conducted separately to the court cases for infringement. In February 2006, the USPTO rejected all of NTP's claims in three disputed patents. NTP has appealed the decision, and the reexamination process is still outgoing as of July 2006 (See NTP, Inc. for details).
On 3 March 2006, RIM announced that it had settled its BlackBerry patent dispute with NTP. Under the terms of the settlement, RIM has agreed to pay NTP US$612.5 million in a “full and final settlement of all claims.” In a statement, RIM said that “all terms of the agreement have been finalized and the litigation against RIM has been dismissed by a court order this afternoon. The agreement eliminates the need for any further court proceedings or decisions relating to damages or injunctive relief.”[citation needed]
(See also: NTP, Inc.)
[edit] RIM v Xerox
On July 17, 2003, while still imbrued in litigation with NTP and Good Technology, RIM filed suit against Xerox in the U.S. District of Hartford, Connecticut. The suit was filed in response to discussions about patents held by Xerox that might affect RIM's business, and also asks that patents held by Xerox be invalidated.[11]
[edit] Visto v RIM
On May 1, 2006, RIM was sued by Visto for patent infringement. [12]
[edit] Competition
Middleware
Platform/OS
[edit] References
- ^ Reasons for Selection, 2007 Canada's Top 100 Employers.
- ^ Palm'sTungsten and MIMS target RIM's LIMs,http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/09/24/palmstungsten_and_mims_target_rims/
- ^ Glenayre Electronics home page, http://www.glenayremessaging.com/messaging/
- ^ RIM press release, May 17, 2001, "Research In Motion Files Wireless Patent Complaint Against Glenayre Electronics, Inc.", http://www.rim.net/news/press/2001/pr-17_05_2001-02.shtml
- ^ RIM unleashes more lawyers on Good, http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/07/12/rim_unleashes_more_lawyers/
- ^ RIM sues Handspring, Good, http://m.news.com/RIM+sues+Handspring%2C+Good/2163-1040_3-958550.html
- ^ Good Technology settles with Lawsuits in Motion,http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/03/28/good_technology_settles_with_lawsuits/
- ^ RIM granted handheld email patent – clobbers Handspring,http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/09/19/rim_granted_handheld_email_patent/
- ^ RIM sues Handspring, Good, http://m.news.com/RIM+sues+Handspring%2C+Good/2163-1040_3-958550.html
- ^ Handspring settles Lawsuits in Motion suit,http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/11/05/handspring_settles_lawsuits_in_motion/
- ^ Lawsuits In Motion files suit against Xerox,http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/07/29/lawsuits_in_motion_files_suit/
- ^ Intellectual Property Professional Information Center: Visto Corp. Sues BlackBerry Maker RIM,http://ipcenter.bna.com/pic2/ip.nsf/id/BNAP-6PNTRU?OpenDocument
[edit] External links
- Research In Motion website
- BlackBerry website
- BlackBerry Support Forums
- ValueWiki Research in Motion Profile
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