This article is about the wireless email device. For the fruit, see Blackberry.

For other uses, see Blackberry (disambiguation).

BlackBerry Bold 9650 Manufacturer Research In Motion (RIM) GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Compatible GPRS/EDGE/UMTS networks CDMA/1xEV-DO iDEN Dimensions 50 106.7 14.5 mm[1] Weight 87.9 to 155 g depending on model Operating BlackBerry OS system CPU ARM XScale 64 MB 768 MB reserved application memory, 4 GB media Memory memory on Storm models, expandable to 32 GB via microSD Display 640 480 pixels (Bold 9900/Bold 9930) 800 480(Torch 9850/9860) 600 480 (Torch 9810) 480 360 pixels (Curve 8900/Tour 9630/Bold 9650/Bold 9700/Bold 9780) 360 480 pixels (Storm 9500/Torch

9800 ) 480 320 pixels (Bold 9000) 360 400 pixels (Pearl 3G) 320 240 pixels (8300/8500/8700/8800/Curve 3G) 240 260 pixels (7100/8100 series) 240 160 pixels (7200/7300 series) Ringtones & notifications Connectivity Polyphonic, MP3, MIDI microSD, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC

BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion (RIM) since 1999.[2][3] BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more. They are primarily known for their ability to send and receive (push) email and instant messages while maintaining a high level of security through on-device message encryption. Blackberry devices support a large variety of instant messaging features, including BlackBerry Messenger. BlackBerry accounts for 3% of mobile device sales worldwide in 2011, making its manufacturer RIM the sixth most popular device maker (25% of mobile device sales are smartphones).[4] The consumer BlackBerry Internet Service is available in 91 countries worldwide on over 500 mobile service operators using various mobile technologies.[5] As of October 2011, there were seventy million subscribers worldwide to BlackBerry.[6] At present the Caribbean and Latin America, have the highest penetrations of BlackBerry smartphones worldwide with up to about 45 per cent in the region having a RIM device.[7] Modern GSM-based BlackBerry handhelds incorporate an ARM 7, 9 or ARM 11 processor,[8] while older BlackBerry 950 and 957 handhelds used Intel 80386 processors. The latest BlackBerry models (Torch 9850/9860, Torch 9810, and Bold 9900/9930) have a 1.2 GHz MSM8255 Snapdragon Processor, 768 MB system memory), and 8 GB of on-board storage.[9] [10] All BlackBerrys after OS 5 support up to 32 GB microSD cards. The first BlackBerry device, the 850, was introduced in 1999 as a two-way pager in Munich, Germany. The name BlackBerry was coined by the marketing company Lexicon Branding. In 2003, the more commonly known smartphone BlackBerry was released, which supports push email, mobile telephone, text messaging, Internet faxing, Web browsing and other wireless information services. It is an example of a convergent device. The original BlackBerry devices, the RIM 850 and 857, used the DataTac network. BlackBerry first made headway in the marketplace by concentrating on email. RIM currently offers BlackBerry email service to non-BlackBerry devices, such as the Palm Treo, through its BlackBerry Connect software. The original BlackBerry device had a monochrome display, but all current models have color displays. All models, except for the Storm series and the all-touch Torch 9850 had a built-in QWERTY keyboard, optimized for "thumbing", the use of only the thumbs to type. The Storm 1 and Storm 2 include a SureType keypad for typing. Originally, system navigation was achieved with the use of a scroll wheel mounted on the right side of phones prior to the 8700. The trackwheel was replaced by the trackball with the introduction of the Pearl series which allowed for 4 way scrolling. The trackball was replaced by the optical trackpad with

the introduction of the Curve 8500 series. Models made to use iDEN networks such as Nextel and Mike also incorporate a push-to-talk (PTT) feature, similar to a two-way radio

BlackBerry Messenger
BlackBerry devices use the proprietary BlackBerry Messenger, also known as BBM, software for sending and receiving encrypted instant messages, voice notes, images and videos via BlackBerry PIN. Some of the features of BBM include groups, bar-code scanning, lists, shared calendars, BBM Music and integration with apps and games using the BBM social platform.

BlackBerry Enterprise Server

BlackBerry smartphones can be integrated into an organization's email system through a software package called BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES). Versions of BES are available for Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino and Novell GroupWise. Google has made a Connector for BES which makes BES available for Google Apps as well. While individual users may be able to use a wireless provider's email services without having to install BES themselves, organizations with multiple users usually run BES on their own network. Some third-party companies provide hosted BES solutions. Every BlackBerry has an ID called a BlackBerry PIN, which is used to identify the device to the BES. BlackBerry now provides a free BES software called BES Express (BESX).[24] BES acts as an email relay for corporate accounts so that users always have access to their email. The software monitors the user's local Inbox, and when a new message comes in, it picks up the message and passes it to RIM's Network Operations Center (NOC). The messages are then relayed to the user's wireless provider, which in turn delivers them to the user's BlackBerry device. This is called push email, because all new emails, contacts, task entries, memopad entries, and calendar entries are pushed out to the BlackBerry device automatically and instantaneously (as opposed to the user synchronizing the data manually or having the device poll the server at intervals). BlackBerry also supports polling email, through third party applications. The messaging system built in to the BlackBerry only understands how to receive messages from a BES or the BIS, these services handle the connections to the user's mail providers. Device storage also enables the mobile user to access all data off-line in areas without wireless service. When the user reconnects to wireless service, the BES sends the latest data. An included feature in the newer models of the BlackBerry is the ability for it to quickly track your current location through trilateration without the use of GPS, thus saving battery life and time. Trilateration can be used as a quick, less battery intensive way to provide location-aware applications with the co-ordinates of the user. However, the accuracy of BlackBerry trilateration is less than that of GPS due to a number of factors, including cell tower blockage by large buildings, mountains, or distance. BES also provides handhelds with TCP/IP connectivity accessed through a component called MDS (Mobile Data System) Connection Service.[25] This allows for custom application development using data streams on BlackBerry devices based on the Sun Microsystems Java ME platform. In addition, BES provides network security, in the form of Triple DES[26] or, more recently, AES[27] encryption[28][29] of all data (both email and MDS traffic) that travels between the BlackBerry handheld and a BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Most providers offer flat monthly pricing for unlimited data between BlackBerry units and BES. In addition to receiving email, organizations can make intranets or custom internal applications with unmetered traffic.

With more recent versions of the BlackBerry platform, the MDS is no longer a requirement for wireless data access. Starting with OS 3.8 or 4.0, BlackBerry handhelds can access the Internet (i.e. TCP/IP access) without an MDS formerly only email and WAP access was possible without a BES/MDS. The BES/MDS is still required for secure email, data access, and applications that require WAP from carriers that do not allow WAP access.

RIM patent infringement litigation

In 2000 NTP sent notice of its wireless email patents to a number of companies and offered to license the patents to them. NTP brought a patent-infringement lawsuit against one of the companies, Research In Motion, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. This court is well known for its strict adherence to timetables and deadlines, sometimes referred to as the "rocket docket", and is particularly efficient at trying patent cases.[32] The jury eventually found that the NTP patents were valid, that RIM had infringed them, that the infringement had been "willful," and that the infringement had cost NTP $33 million in damages (the greater of a reasonable royalty or lost profits). The judge, James R. Spencer, increased the damages to $53 million as a punitive measure because the infringement had been willful. He also instructed RIM to pay NTP's legal fees of $4.5 million and issued an injunction ordering RIM to cease and desist infringing the patents. This would have shut down the BlackBerry systems in the US.[33] RIM appealed all of the findings of the court. The injunction and other remedies were stayed pending the outcome of the appeals. In March 2005 during the appeals process, RIM and NTP tried to negotiate a settlement of their dispute; the settlement was to be for $450 million. Negotiations broke down due to other issues. On June 10, 2005, the matter returned to the courts. In early November 2005 the US Department of Justice filed a brief requesting that RIM's service be allowed to continue because of the large number of BlackBerry users in the US Federal Government.[34] In January 2006 the US Supreme Court refused to hear RIM's appeal of the holding of liability for patent infringement, and the matter was returned to a lower court. The prior granted injunction preventing all RIM sales in the US and use of the BlackBerry device might have been enforced by the presiding district court judge had the two parties been unable to reach a settlement. On February 9, 2006, the US Department of Defense (DOD) filed a brief stating that an injunction shutting down the BlackBerry service while excluding government users was unworkable. The DOD also stated that the BlackBerry was crucial for national security given the large number of government users. On February 9, 2006, RIM announced that it had developed software workarounds that would not infringe the NTP patents, and would implement those if the injunction was enforced. On March 3, 2006, after a stern warning from Judge Spencer, RIM and NTP announced that they had settled their dispute. Under the terms of the settlement, RIM has agreed to pay NTP $612.5 million (USD) 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. The settlement amount is believed low by some analysts, because of the absence of any future royalties on the technology in question.[35]

Criticism
In October 2011, BlackBerry users could not connect to the BlackBerry servers due to a major failure. The services were interrupted for almost 3 days in many parts of the world.

RIM had announced that it would give all its users free apps worth $100 in an attempt to express apology for its service disruption

BlackBerry services hit again

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The author has posted comments on this articleAshis Ray, TNN | Oct 12, 2011, 08.50AM IST OTTAWA: BlackBerry users across much of the globe experienced outages in key functions for a second straight day on Tuesday, despite maker Research In Motion having said on Monday that it had fixed the problem. The glitches that impaired messaging, emails and Internet browsing in Europe, the Middle East and Africa spread to India and South America on Tuesday, Canada-based Research In Motion confirmed. "Some users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, India, Brazil , Chile, and Argentina are experiencing messaging and browsing delays," it said in a statement. "We are working to restore normal service as quickly as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused." Many users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa reported on Monday not being able to receive or send email, use instant messaging or browse the Internet, though the problems did not appear to be the same for each user, or affect all users. Oneindia News Business

No ban on BlackBerry: Telecom Secretary

Friday, March 14, 2008, 13:06 [IST]

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Varghese is a senior-level communication specialist with 16 years of experience in brand communications, public relations and marketing communications in the high growth Technology industry. has steered successful strategies and programs that have created enduring reputation and brands. Has a successful track record of managing projects and teams and known to initiate programs around adapting & managing changes while internalizing & strengthening values and culture. His forte is in Planning communications strategy and developing best practice relations communication program for brand management, government relationship, merger & acquisition, investor/analyst relationship. A team-player with strong project management skills with exposure to both international and domestic market, capable at handling multiple assignments, possess strong communications skills and a management discipline. Varghese has managed communications for large and mid-sized enterprises from various sectors such as IT, auto, Airlines, services, and manufacturing. He has worked on various accounts such as Satyam, Mahindra, Emirtates, Oberoi Hotels, Eurocopter, HLL

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RIM Outage October Crisis

by: Tony Damourakis This is a small comment/article I wrote in the comments section of crackberry.com the day Mike Lazaridis of RIM addressed the public to apologize for the disruption caused by the outage through a Podcast. Ive done some editing for this blog but the essence of the article has not changed from the original.

BlackBerryBee.com

I guess the riots in the UK have nothing to do with this. Funny how all this happens just before 4s is launched on the 14th. I wonder if imessage is open to all governments because bbm will certainly be once this is over. Poor Mike it must be killing him to not be able to voice this even if he's not sure. Then again there are forces at work here beyond your/my comprehension. Therefore whether you/I like it or not the screws are being tightened. If I don't hear something concrete coming out of Devcon in San Francisco next week I hate to say it but I'm out of here keyboard and all. The media has done its job in discrediting this company some more. I just can't believe that this could happen to a company like RIM unless it was allowed to happen, and yes Mike was reading because they couldn't let him just express himself openly as he may have just told us the truth... My son who is only 21 and switched from a Blackberry to the iphone only a month ago came home last night and heard my wife and I discussing how both our phones are semi down, his first words were I told you Blackberry s--ks. I spoke to 2 other friends and they both had the same sentiments if not the same word, they both recently switched from Blackberry to iphone and will never come back, their words not mine. They both honestly believe the Blackberry is dying a very slow death. The media of course is helping in a big way. So Mike why don't you speak up and put it on the line at least if you have to go, you go with your head held high, no need to spin youre only hurting this company further. If people just used some critical thinking in their everyday lives, the media would have very little to justify their existence. Since this is not the case RIM will continue the downward spiral and people who are aware of what is going on will have no choice but to jump ship. Unless, and here is a shot in the dark, forget about Google and I've heard this scenario so I don't think it will work as well as this will. RIM, and Microsoft together under one umbrella. The media will have won the battle but not the war. At the end of the day they both need to reboot in order to work better. I guess I will keep the faith for a little while longer. Yes this was typed from my playbook that I paid $699.00 + Tax. 64Gb. How much are they going for now? Was it a crisis? A conspiracy? Or did the servers just go down like they go down with every company from time to time, no big deal?

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New Delhi, Mar 14: The government today said it is not considering any ban on BlackBerry services at this point and is in discussion with the operators to resolve the issue. ''There is no question of banning at this point. We are in discussion with the various stakeholers to resolve the issue,'' Telecom Secretary Siddhartha Behura told reporters here on the sidelines of a conference here. The government is talking to the telecom operators and Research In Motion (RIM) to resolve the security concerns, he added. The Home Ministry hade last week expressed concern over the alleged security threat that BlackBerry services offers in absence of a server here, which does not allow for government interception. It started with the Tata Telecommunication's application for Blackberry service being rejected by the government on the same grounds. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had written to the other BlackBerry service operators that includes Airtel, Vodafone and Reliance. All value-added services, including BlackBerry, has to have prior approval of the government to ensure that they have lawful interception. Developed by Canadian firm, Research In Motion (RIM), Blackberry is a patented service that allows access to e-mails on mobile phones, besides offering other features of a mobile phone. Mobile phone industry analysts put the number of BlackBerry subscribers in the country at about half a million, and it would come as a huge blow to them.

Crisis management a lesson from BlackBerry

There can be few people who didnt hear about BlackBerrys massive service problems last week. A faulty switch at a datacentre left customers unable to use the messaging and web browsing services on their handsets. Initially, BlackBerry tried to play it down, giving little information to the press and customers except short statements saying that they were sorting it out. However, the longer the problems went on (over 3 days!) and the more people that were affected (millions of users worldwide), it became clear that this was a big deal and the company was forced into crisis management mode. Not only did the worlds media report it but thousands of people turned to Twitter and other social media networks to express their poor opinion of the company and its stuttering efforts to fix the problems. As we predicted in our blog, BlackBerrys reputation was badly dented by the situation and they have clearly realised that they need to recover their customers confidence and goodwill. But rather than go through the bureaucratic nightmare and very expensive process of providing the financial compensation that many users were calling for, BlackBerry has opted for a quick response, by giving users something for nothing. Classic games such as Bejeweled and The Sims plus personal productivity tools and utilities (to please their disgruntled business users), are now being offered free to Blackberry owners. In total, 12 apps, which Blackberry claims are worth around 63, are being offered to customers and RIM said more would be made available in the coming weeks. In addition, business customers are being offered a free month of technical support. Those who already have a support contract will be offered a month of Blackberrys enhanced support service. This giveaway is a classic tactic and is clever because, although it will not repair BlackBerrys battered reputation, it will be enough to appease many casual users and the storm will die down leaving BlackBerry to sort itself out. And because the problem was so high-profile, BlackBerry has been very public about its response, in order to restore its reputation with everyone, not just its customers. In a statement announcing the giveaway, Mike Laziridis, chief of Blackberry owner Research in Motion, said, We are grateful to our loyal BlackBerry customers for their patience. We are taking immediate and aggressive steps to help prevent something like this from happening again. And that is key to all of this. Yes, BlackBerry has restored its services and appeased customers with some freebies, but if the service problems repeat themselves theyll be in even deeper, hotter water. In the meantime, their response might just buy them enough time to sort themselves out