History of Research in Motion Ltd. (RIMM)

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This article focuses on the historical background and evolution of Research in Motion Ltd. (RIMM). For the main article see: Research in Motion Limited (RIMM).

History of the BlackBerry

Prior to the manufacture of the BlackBerry, RIMM 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 pager 950, which started shipping in August 1998. About the size of a bar of soap, this device competed against the SkyTel two-way paging network developed by Motorola.^[1]

The first BlackBerry was released in early 1999, using the same hardware as the Inter@ctive pager 950, and running on the Mobitex network. BlackBerry was successful early on because it did something no other wireless email device had done to that point. RIM solved the "two mailbox" problem. The "two mailbox" problem was the problem of having a wireless mailbox and a corporate mailbox. RIM was the first to solve this problem by providing a "one mailbox" solution with a combination of their proprietary devices, middleware software (BlackBerry Enterprise Server) and a network operations center (NOC) located in Canada that retrieves e-mail using triple DES encryption and "pushed" (push e-mail) it to the connected devices.^[1]

While including the usual PDA applications (address book, calendar, to-do lists, etc.) as well as telephone capabilities on later models, the BlackBerry was primarily known for its ability to send and receive emails wherever it could access wireless networks of certain cellular phone carriers. It had a built-in keyboard, optimized for "thumbing", the use of only the thumbs to type. System navigation was primarily accomplished by the trackwheel (or "thumbwheel"), a scrolling wheel with a "click" function, located on the right side of the device. Some models (like those manufactured for use with the Nextel, TELUS, and other iDEN networks) also incorporated a two-way radio. While modern BlackBerry handhelds incorporate ARM 7 or 9 processors, older BlackBerry 950 and 957 handhelds used [Intel 80386] processors. Later GSM BlackBerry models (8100 and 8700 series) runned on [Intel PXA901] 312 MHz processors, 64 MB flash memory and 16 MB SDRAM. The devices became very popular with some businesses and professions, where they were primarily used to provide e-mail access to roaming employees.^[2]

Cellular phone integration

The first BlackBerry integrating a cell phone, as well as the first BlackBerry sold outside of North America was released in 2001, using the European GSM / GPRS standard. 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," as users feel they can not live without it.^[1]

Legal disputes

RIM v Glenayre

In 2001, RIMM sued competitor Glenayre Electronics Inc. for patent infringement, partly in response to an earlier infringement suit filed by Glenayre against RIMM. RIMM sought an injunction to prevent Glenayre from infringing RIMM's patents.^[3] The suit was ultimately settled.^[1]

NTP v RIM

In 2002, RIMM was sued for patent infringement by NTP Inc. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. During their defense, RIMM attempted to show that NTP's patents were invalid as wireless email technology existed at the time NTP filed their patent applications. However, RIMM performed a demonstration to the court, but utilised certain parts from after the priority dates of the patents in question and the demonstration was not considered by the jury. The patents were found valid and willfully infringed and damages were assessed at US$ 23 million dollars.^[4]. RIMM appealed against the finding that the infringement was willful, but were unsuccessful (a finding of willful infringement can lead to higher damages than mere infringement).^[1]

During the appeals, RIMM 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 (USPTO.) That reexamination was conducted separately to the court cases for infringement. In February 2006, the USPTO rejected all of NTP's claims in three disputed patents. NTP appealed the decision, and the reexamination process was still outgoing as of July 2006.^[1]

On March 3, 2006, RIMM announced that it had settled its BlackBerry patent dispute with NTP. Under the terms of the settlement, RIMM agreed to pay NTP US$ 612.5 million in a "full and final settlement of all claims." In a statement, RIMM 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."^[1]

RIM v Visto

On May 1, 2006, RIMM was sued by Visto for patent infringement.^[1]

Notes