Research In Motion Ltd. ( RIM ) on Thursday harbinger that it has developed and tested software that would enable it to continue to put up its wireless due east - mail service to BlackBerry users if a court range RIM to shut down the current pattern of the service in the U.S.
The work - around has been the subject of much speculation because RIM had said it was developing such software system but had been reluctant to describe how the new organisation would work . Now RIM order it has examine the software that it will ship on BlackBerry equipment going ahead and that it will make useable for download by current users if necessary . The software program will endure the servicing as it presently works but it wo n’t swear on engineering based on patents contain by NTP Inc. , the company with which RIM is involved in a lengthy legal battle .
A court of late find that RIM had infringed on NTP patent of invention . However , in an strange turn of result , the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ( USPTO ) has preliminarily ruled that all of the relevant NTP patent are invalid . Until the USPTO puddle concluding discernment on those letters patent , though , the court battle keep . That includes a ruling that could draw RIM to turn off its service in the U.S. In late February , a judge is have a bun in the oven to resolve if RIM should be govern to close down its service found on a asking from NTP .
RIM aver it still believes there ’s a good fortune the judge wo n’t order the service shut off but that it developed the oeuvre - around as a eventuality plan .
RIM has file a letters patent coating for the body of work - around software , which it said volunteer the same function and performance as the existing service but does n’t practice technology described in NTP ’s patents .
brim will before long commence to let in the raw software on fresh devices , which will persist on the existing package platform unless RIM is ordain to shut down its service . In that example , RIM can remotely trigger off the work - around package from its internet operations center .
If RIM is order to shut down its service and if that order go for to exist user , RIM will mail the new software on a Web land site where it can be download and implemented .
In January , RIM announced plans to include free Mac support with its Blackberry handhelds . The screen background software , developed by Information Appliance Associates , enables Mac users to synchronize data between their Mac and their Blackberry .
The legal battle between RIM and NTP has been intimately watch by IT departments , especially those that bear the wireless e - mail overhaul for executives . Some analyst have advised IT departments to make their own contingency programme in instance the RIM religious service is close down . The site has spur a alimentation frenzy of sorts among other get-up-and-go vitamin E - mail supplier that are nifty to ill-treat in where RIM could leave a vacuum . Companies including Visto Corp. , Good Technology Inc. , Microsoft Corp. , DataViz Inc. and Nokia Corp. are among the businesses offering pushing e - mail .
Peter Cohen put up information used in this article .
