STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 17, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- BlackBerry(R) is a great success in North America and Europe and is being introduced into new markets all over the world. More than one million users already use BlackBerry to receive their e-mail directly on their BlackBerry Wireless Handheld(TM), without having to dial in. BlackBerry is now being launched in Sweden by Vodafone.
Vodafone Sweden recently introduced the Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G/GPRS datacard, Europe's first high speed lap top datacard on the Swedish market making it easier, faster and more efficient for Vodafone business customers to work whilst away from the office. Now Vodafone broadens its range of business mobile solutions for people on the move further. With the BlackBerry from Vodafone the user has constant, safe access via the GPRS-network to the e-mail and calendar, wherever he or she may be. BlackBerry is developed and manufactured by Research In Motion.
With the BlackBerry solution e-mail is delivered directly to and from the BlackBerry handheld without having to dial in. When an email reaches the server in the office it is pushed directly to the user's BlackBerry handheld. BlackBerry from Vodafone can be used to receive, edit, reply to, send and forward e-mail, and to read and forward attachments in formats such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe PDF.
"With BlackBerry from Vodafone we're offering what many companies have long been requesting for their employees - a safe, efficient solution for mobile management of e-mail and calendars. Now you really can keep your e-mail in your pocket," says Anders Sjoholm, Director Business Segment at Vodafone Sweden.
The BlackBerry Wireless Handheld(TM)
BlackBerry from Vodafone is being launched in Sweden with the BlackBerry 7230(TM). The handheld includes a browser, personal organiser features and also works as a regular mobile phone, which means that you can make and receive phone calls and send text messages. The large, integrated keypad makes it very easy to write e-mails directly from the handheld and the large colour screen with backlight makes it easy to read the e- mails. For corporate users the calendar synchronises wirelessly with their office calendar.
High accessibility, smart and safe with your pocket e-mail BlackBerry from Vodafone operates in Sweden on Vodafone's GPRS network. Users can also roam with their BlackBerry Handheld to many countries where Vodafone has a GPRS roaming agreement.* It supports Triple DES encryption enabling the secure transmission of information between the handheld and the company server. This has made BlackBerry a popular solution for many government organisations and financial institutions.
Customized solutions for companies and private individuals In Sweden, Vodafone will be launching the BlackBerry platforms for corporate and for individual/small business use. BlackBerry Enterprise is for larger companies with Microsoft(R) Exchange or IBM Lotus(R) Domino(TM) and will be launched in Sweden this May. The enterprise platform comprises BlackBerry handhelds, BlackBerry Desktop Software, which is installed on the computer, and BlackBerry Enterprise Server(TM) software which is installed alongside the corporate server. Later this year Vodafone Sweden will launch a hosted BlackBerry solution for private individual/small business use.
Fixed price
BlackBerry from Vodafone is billed as an additional service at a fixed monthly rate, and is not dependent on the volume of e-mail that is read or sent by a user. The monthly rate is approx. SEK 330 per user*. The recommended price of the BlackBerry handheld will be SEK 3,995 excluding VAT. Additional costs are the hardware (server) and licenses for the software.
During the launch phase Vodafone is offering companies the opportunity to test BlackBerry Enterprise for one month. The offer includes 5 BlackBerry handhelds, 5 licenses, 5 monthly fees plus server and installation. The cost of this offer is SEK 19,500 excluding VAT, which will be deducted from the price if the company signs an agreement after the trial period.
Press photos of the upcoming BlackBerry 7230 can be downloaded from: http://www.vodafone.se/433.jsp
The BlackBerry family of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties of, and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited, used by permission
* BlackBerry users that want to use the Encryption Feature should consult with Vodafone Sweden before roaming with GPRS to countries outside of the European Economic Area, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. **Abroad additional costs for roaming traffic For more information please contact: Anders Sjoholm, Director Business Segment, Vodafone Sweden +46 708 33 10 22, e-mail: anders.sjoholm@vodafone.se Johan Holmgren, Director Public Relations, Vodafone Sweden +46 708 33 14 00, e-mail: johan.holmgren@vodafone.se
RIM/BlackBerry Europe: Tilly Quanjer, Senior Communications Manager, RIM +44 (0)1784 223987 e-mail: tquanjer@rim.com
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