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China Mobile Welcomes RIM - Blackberry for SMBs

December 15, 2009

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RIM BlackBerry 8820

Beijing, China (RPRN) 12/15/09 — China Mobile and Research in Motion Deepen Strategic Relationship

Announce Plans to Support TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE Technologies on BlackBerry Smartphones and Launch BlackBerry Smartphones and Services in China for SMBs and Professional Consumers

- China Mobile and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced plans to support TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE technologies on the BlackBerry® smartphone platform. China Mobile and RIM also announced plans to launch BlackBerry® Internet Service and BlackBerry smartphones for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and professional consumers.

Since the launch of the BlackBerry solution by China Mobile in 2006, China Mobile and RIM have been focused on successfully introducing the solution to enterprise customers in China. Examples of these enterprise customers include BaoSteel Group, China International Capital Corporation (CICC), CITIC Security, COSCO, Essence Securities and Ping An Insurance. RIM and China Mobile are also continuing to work with software developers to bring more localized content and applications to the BlackBerry platform for Chinese customers.

The latest developments in the strategic relationship between the two companies will see China Mobile and RIM cooperating to drive continued growth in the enterprise business segment and to introduce BlackBerry Internet Service and BlackBerry smartphones to the extensive SMB and professional consumer markets in China. In addition, China Mobile and RIM will collaborate on the development of BlackBerry smartphones that will support TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE technologies.

BlackBerry Internet Service is expected to be available from China Mobile in 2010. BlackBerry Internet Service together with BlackBerry smartphones will support a wide range of applications including access to social networking sites as well as email and instant messaging. BlackBerry Internet Service from China Mobile will also support customized content through services such as Mobile Market, FETION and other Web-based services.

"BlackBerry smartphones are the world’s leading communications tool for business users and are increasingly adopted by consumers for their powerful messaging and multimedia capabilities,” said Wang Jianzhou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, China Mobile. “In addition to growing the established enterprise market, we also plan to offer BlackBerry Internet Service to individuals and SMBs in China. Furthermore, we are expanding our strategic objectives together as RIM plans to support TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE technologies on BlackBerry smartphones."

“We are very pleased to expand our strategic relationship with China Mobile,” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “With these new business and technology initiatives, we believe that RIM and China Mobile will be in a strengthened position to serve Chinese customers and to jointly address the growing smartphone market opportunity in China.”

RIM -Research in Motion

Details regarding the availability of BlackBerry smartphones and BlackBerry Internet Service for SMBs and professional consumers in China will be announced at a later date.

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used herein, words such as "intend" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made by and information available to Research In Motion Limited. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, possible product defects and product liability, risks related to international sales and potential foreign currency exchange fluctuations, the initiation or outcome of litigation, acts or potential acts of terrorism, international conflicts, significant fluctuations of quarterly operating results, changes in Canadian and foreign laws and regulations, continued acceptance of RIM's products, increased levels of competition, technological changes and the successful development of new products, dependence on third-party networks to provide services, dependence on intellectual property rights, and other risks and factors detailed from time to time in RIM's periodic reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and other regulatory authorities. RIM has no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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. 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.
 

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