City of New Orleans Selects BlackBerry Wireless Solution; BlackBerry Helps City Staff to Increase Productivity and Enhance Responsiveness.

Business Editors

NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2003

The City of New Orleans has selected the BlackBerry(R) wireless platform, developed by Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM), to meet its mobile communication and information needs. BlackBerry is helping the City of New Orleans employees to increase productivity through wireless access to email, phone, SMS (Short Message Service), Internet browser and organizer applications.

"Access to information and people are critical to effectively running any government. BlackBerry has been essential in helping us meet that need," said C. Ray Nagin, Mayor of the City of New Orleans. "Since taking office, members of my administration have been able to access information via their BlackBerry handheld during important meetings without even leaving the room. That wireless access has made us extremely efficient."

The City of New Orleans relies on email for efficient communications and staff need to access email when they are out of the office. Mayor Nagin had previous experience with BlackBerry during his employment at Cox Communications, Inc. and found it to be a powerful productivity tool. He wanted to replicate the benefits of BlackBerry at the City of New Orleans. Because of his positive experiences with BlackBerry, including a smooth implementation process and a rapid return on investment, Mayor Nagin and Chief Technology Officer, Greg Meffert, decided to quickly integrate the BlackBerry wireless platform with their existing Microsoft(R) Exchange environment.

The initial implementation was extremely successful and was used to assist the Mayor's transition into office by creating accessibility and enhanced communications among staff members. Currently over 70 members of Nagin's staff have BlackBerry handhelds and the deployment is expected to grow in the next year as BlackBerry expands to additional departments and offices.

BlackBerry has resulted in a very productive work environment at the City of New Orleans by enabling improved communications and information access for employees. Not only has BlackBerry achieved strong productivity gains for staff, but it has also helped create a culture where fast decisions are expected and decision makers are accessible.

"Our investments in technological breakthroughs like BlackBerry has allowed City Government to process citizen requests quickly," said Mayor C. Ray Nagin. "By making New Orleans information, business services and employees more accessible, we are constantly improving the responsiveness, accountability and availability of City Government."

"BlackBerry has made us more accessible to the public. Citizens now have the ability to get quick answers directly from Executive Staff members and decisions makers," said Greg Meffert, Chief Technology Officer of the City of New Orleans. "BlackBerry handhelds have become the must-have device for the Mayor's staff. Many staff also feel that it has enhanced their work/life balance since it makes it easier for them to travel or work away from their office."

The use of BlackBerry is one way that the Nagin administration has employed technology to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of City Government in New Orleans. In addition, a number of improvements to the city's web site, www.cityofno.com, allow citizens to perform a wide variety of government transactions online. The City is also collaborating with software leaders to develop applications for the government sector. For example, the city is building a wireless network for the New Orleans Police Department that will support mobile data terminals in police patrol cars and surveillance cameras in high crime areas. At the same time, the City is working to update and automate finance, zoning, GIS, and other internal municipal systems, which is expected to save millions of dollars in the process.

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(R) wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld(TM) 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.

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. The Company 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.