September 8, 2008

Vodafone Spain and RIM Launch the BlackBerry Bold Smartphone with an Optimized 3G Experience

The first BlackBerry smartphone to support tri-band HSDPA high-speed networks

Madrid, Spain and Waterloo, ON– Vodafone Spain and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today launched the BlackBerry® Bold™ smartphone, a top of the line BlackBerry® smartphone that features premium design and unprecedented performance for an optimized 3G experience. The BlackBerry Bold is perfect for business and professional Vodafone Spain clients that want the high speed of speed of 3G.

The new BlackBerry Bold is the first BlackBerry smartphone to support tri-band HSDPA high-speed networks around the world and comes with integrated GPS and Wi-Fi®, as well as a rich set of multimedia capabilities. From its lustrous black exterior, satin chrome finished frame and stylish leatherette backplate, to its stunning display, sophisticated user interface and newly designed full-QWERTY keyboard, the BlackBerry Bold smartphone is a symbol of both accomplishment and aspiration.
 
Clients of Vodafone Spain can download an integrated GPS navigation system, which works in conjunction with Vodafone GPS Navigator™*. Vodafone GPS Navigator, based on the Telmap Navigator solution, offers an enriched navigation experience. It guides the user over the best route to their desired destination, utilizing voice instructions and high-quality maps, both for driving and on foot.  Vodafone GPS Navigator** (www.vodafone.es/navigator) utilizes the Vodafone network to quickly access updated maps and includes additional functions such as searching for points of interest (restaurants, hotels, shopping centres) that can be shared by SMS and which can be called  without having to know the contact telephone number. “Vodafone GPS Navigator” is available with a flat rate that includes all data traffic to download maps and information about traffic jams in real time of the Iberian Peninsula and Europe.

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone features a next-generation 624 MHz mobile processor that makes short work of downloading email attachments, streaming video and rendering web pages. For even broader high-speed network coverage, the BlackBerry Bold smartphone supports the 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi standards, ideal for use in enterprise or campus wireless LAN deployments, over Wi-Fi hotspots and on wireless home networks.  A new "Push Button Setup" is also included, making it faster for users to connect to protected wireless networks that require a sign on process.

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone comes with the sharpest display ever introduced on a BlackBerry smartphone. Its half-VGA (480x320 resolution at 217 ppi) color LCD is fused to the undersurface of the lens, making images leap out with stunning definition and clarity. It also includes 128 MB Flash memory plus 1 GB on-board storage memory, as well as a microSD/SDHC memory card slot*** that is conveniently accessible from a side door. With simultaneous voice and data support, users can even talk on the phone while sending and receiving email or browsing the web. User can also now download Microsoft® Word, Excel and PowerPoint files and edit them directly on the smartphone using the preloaded DataViz® Documents to Go® suite.

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone features a 2 megapixel camera with video recording capability, built-in flash and digital zoom. Its enhanced media player can display pictures and slideshows quickly, play movies smoothly in full screen mode, and manage an entire music collection. Audio can be played over the handset’s dual speakers in rich, stereo sound, and when using headphones or external speakers, the media player gives the user an equalizer with 11 preset filters – like "Lounge", "Jazz" and "Hip Hop" – that boost or soften audio ranges to create the perfect ambiance.

For managing music and video, the BlackBerry® Desktop Manager software includes Roxio® Media Manager for BlackBerry® as well as Roxio Photosuite® 9 LE, which makes it easy to enhance pictures and create photo albums on the computer. For users that manage their collection with iTunes®, the new BlackBerry® Media Sync application provides a simple way to sync iTunes digital music collections with the smartphone****. Support for High Speed USB 2.0 allows files to be transferred quickly from a desktop computer to the BlackBerry Bold smartphone.

The BlackBerry Bold smartphone features a new acoustic design that increases the size of the phone’s audio sweet spot, improving listening quality and clarity.  It also comes with numerous premium phone features including Speaker Independent Voice Recognition (SIVR) for Voice Activated Dialing (VAD), Bluetooth® 2.0, with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits (including car kits that adhere to the Bluetooth Remote SIM Access Profile) and other Bluetooth peripherals. 

Like all BlackBerry smartphones, the BlackBerry Bold gives users the industry’s leading mobile messaging solution. It works with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, which enables advanced security and IT administration within IBM® Lotus® Domino®, Microsoft® Exchange and Novell® GroupWise® environments, as well as BlackBerry® Professional Software for small businesses. It also works with BlackBerry® Internet Service, which gives users access to up to 10 work or personal email accounts (including most popular ISP email accounts).

Notes to the editor:

* All Vodafone Spain clients who have the BlackBerry push email solution activated and a compatible smartphone can try out Vodafone GPS Navigator for free for 14 days at www.vodafone.es/navigator. The smartphones compatible with Vodafone GPS Navigator are: BlackBerry Bold, BlackBerry® Curve™ 8310, BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8120 and BlackBerry® 8800. Vodafone GPS Navigator is also compatible with the BlackBerry® Curve™,  BlackBerry® Pearl ™, BlackBerry® 8707v, BlackBerry® 8700v, BlackBerry® 7130v and BlackBerry® 7100 through the utilization of an external GPS receiver connected via Bluetooth®.
** Vodafone GPS Navigator is available with the Iberia rate (Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar) for 9.95 € per month and with the Europe rate (Germany, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Vatican City, Denmark, Slovakia, Spain, Finland, France, Gibraltar, Greece, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Monaco, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, San Marino, Sweden and Switzerland) for 14.95 € per month, with the BlackBerry service plans for business and self-employed Vodafone clients. 
*** MicroSD/SDHC memory cards are available today in configurations of up to 8GB and the BlackBerry Bold is expected to support upcoming 16GB microSD/SDHC cards. 
****Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies.
For more information please visit: http://www.blackberry.com/eu/blackberrybold.

About Vodafone Spain
Vodafone Spain is part of the Vodafone Group, the world's leading mobile communications company, with a presence in 27 countries and partner networks in a further 40 countries, spanning the five continents. Vodafone offers a full range of mobile telecommunication services, including voice and data communications and currently serves over 269 million proportionate customers worldwide. Vodafone Spain has more than 16.210.000 million customers that benefit from the experience and scope of a World leading company helping individuals, businesses and communities to be more connected in a mobile world.

About Research In Motion (RIM)
Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services with wireless connectivity to data. RIM’s portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry® wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld™ product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.

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