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New Declaration for BlackBerry Alternatives
[February 01, 2006]

New Declaration for BlackBerry Alternatives


 By MICHELLE PASQUERELLO
Associate Editor, TMCnet Online Channels
 
BlackBerry users are clutching onto their devices, looking for an alternative in the event that the Federal Courts will shut down BlackBerry service next month.
 
According to a Visto declaration that will be submitted today in the U.S. District Court handling the Research in Motion (RIM) vs. NTP case, consumers have an alternative.
 
In the declaration, Visto rejects RIM’s previous assertion that there are no viable substitutes to BlackBerry devices.  It also outlines several benefits of alternative BlackBerry options, including that the architecture is more secure and can be used in more products.


 
“The BlackBerry service is unique in that it runs over proprietary hardware, which is in fact not an advantage,” reads the declaration.  “By contrast, Visto allows the consumer to purchase competing handheld devices from a wide array of sources.”

 
“Research in Motion would like the courts to blindly believe that an injunction on Blackberries would cause great harm to our country’s national defense and economy, when that is not true,” said Brian Bogosian, Chief Executive Officer of Visto Corporation.  “If Blackberries are hit with an injunction, Visto will be willing and able to pick up the slack.”
 
Visto is a provider of secure push e-mail services and their service is available in 75 mobile phones and devices, including the Palm Treo 650 and the Motorola RAZR.  Visto, holds 25 patents and has 57 patents pending.
 
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Michelle Pasquerello is Associate Editor for TMCnet’s Online Channels. To see more of her articles, please visit Michelle Pasquerello’s columnist page.

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