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News
Issue #2002 - 24
(June 2002)
(Updated June
26, 2002)
DEVICES
RIM Faces Off Against Good
Technology
A Silicon Valley start-up
Good Technology has launched a corporate wireless message service
that pits Research in Motion’s ‘always on’ BlackBerry against
itself.
For the first time, RIM has competition, and it appears that the
company will have to fight it out either in the court of law or in
the marketplace.
The Competitor
Good Technology has already launched its GoodLink wireless
corporate messaging system, which is compatible with a variety of
devices including RIM handhelds, and this summer will be releasing
its version of the infamous BlackBerry, dubbed the Good G100
handheld.
Good Technology is touting that its service will save companies
time and money as it synchronizes directly with corporate servers
rather than with software on individual PCs, eliminating the need
for IT staff to install software or cradles on end-users’
desktops.
The company says that the service provides mobile workers with a
continuously synchronized connection to Microsoft Exchange
Server-based data, via Cingular Wireless’ nationwide network, and
can run on a variety of devices including the RIM 950 and the RIM
957 and the New Good G100 wireless handhelds.
Good Technology’s new handhelds are described as ergonomically
designed with clear, crisp grayscale screens — which sounds
awfully familiar.
The Battle Ground
Sensing that it is, perhaps, treading on private property, or
more aptly ‘patent-proven’ territory, Good Technology, late last
month, filed a pre-emptive lawsuit against RIM in a U.S. District
Court in California, seeking protection against patent infringement
claims. The company is asking the Court to declare that RIM’s
patent on a technology called single unified e-mail is invalid, or
to declare that Good is not violating the patent, reported first in
‘The Wall Street Journal.’
However, two weeks later, RIM announced that it had filed a
complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
against Good Technology. The claim alleges that Good Technology’s
wireless goods and services infringe on four RIM patents.
The gloves are now off and the fight has begun but will the knock
out punch be thrown in the court of law or in the marketplace? It’s
anyone’s guess.
For more information: http://www.rim.net
http://www.good.com
MobileInfo.com’s Comments & Advisory:
We do not want to give any opinions on the validity of RIM's patents
or Good Technology's law suit against RIM and RIM's counter suit. That is
for the courts to decide. We do feel, however, that this turn of events is
good for the wireless messaging market - it will clarify it, introduce
competition and innovation. Therefore, it will expand it. Unified e-mail is
a very generalized concept and should be consumers' right and not a
privilege that needs patent protection. We have the same opinion on single
click user interface. If our interpretation runs against the current
interpretation of patent laws, legislators should amend it in the interest
of ongoing technological progress. If a company utilizes another company's
patent implementation technique (how it achieves that concept), it should
certainly pay royalty to the latter.
Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in
developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology
architectures. All trademarks used in this summary are
the property of their respective owners.
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