RIM Bolsters Blackberry Service
RIM Bolsters Blackberry Service
February 10, 2006: With just two weeks until the hearing that could force RIM to switch off its Blackberry service in the US, the company has released details of a software update that it claims will keep the service running without interruption.
Research in Motion (RIM) is due back in court on February 24th for the final decision on NTP’s injunction on its patent-infringing service. It believes it has strong arguments against the injunction, however it apparently has an ace up its sleeve if the court bans the service.
The company’s contingency plan is a software update dubbed Multi-Mode, which can be activated remotely by RIM from its Network Operations Centre. Only upgraded handhelds will be able to access the system. The company says that providing handsets are updated, there will be no visible changes to service or functionality of the Blackberry devices.
RIM has not released any specific details on how its Multi-Mode is different from the current system. However, it said in a statement that the changes modify the necessary underlying elements of the BlackBerry message delivery system just enough to be fundamentally different from the NTP patent claims.
"RIM's workaround provides a contingency for our customers and partners and a counterbalance to NTP's threats," says Jim Balsillie, RIM co-chief executive. "This will hopefully lead to more reasonable negotiations, since NTP risks losing all future royalties if the workaround is implemented."
The company has not specified when the updated software will be available for download. Customers outside of the US do not need to patch their handhelds, and it is still unclear how the courts decision will affect Blackberry services outside of the country.
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