RIM Introduces the New BlackBerry Pearl 3G Smartphone in Latin America and the Caribbean

The powerful and compact BlackBerry Pearl 3G is the smallest BlackBerry smartphone yet.

Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) announced plans to launch the new BlackBerry® Pearl™ 3G smartphone in various countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.

Despite its impressively compact and elegant design, this stylish new handset is a powerful 3G BlackBerry smartphone with uncompromising performance and top–of-the-line features, including all the industry-leading BlackBerry® email, messaging and social networking capabilities that so many people love. The BlackBerry Pearl 3G is expected to be available in most markets in the August and September timeframe, with specific dates varying from country to country.

The new BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone is a marvel of engineering and design excellence. It’s as powerful as it is compact. Measuring less than two inches wide (50 mm) and weighing only 3.3 ounces (93g), it still manages to pack in support for high-speed 3G (UMTS/HSDPA) networks, Wi-Fi® (b/g/n) and GPS along with a powerhouse processor that drives visually stunning images on the sharp, high-resolution display. It also features an optical trackpad for smooth navigation, dedicated volume and media keys for added convenience, a 3.2 MP camera with flash for quality pictures on the go, and support for up to 32 GB of personal content.
“We are excited to introduce the smallest BlackBerry smartphone yet in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is an ideal choice for people who are looking to upgrade from a traditional cell phone to a powerful 3G handset,” said Rick Costanzo, Managing Director for Latin America, Research In Motion. “The new BlackBerry Pearl 3G packs a wealth of functionality in a compact and refined design that looks and feels great. Its multimedia and messaging features help users stay connected and entertained, allowing them to make the most of their busy lifestyle at work and at play.”
Key features of the new BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone include:

Elegant candy bar design measuring 4.25" x 1.96" x 0.52" (108mm x 50 mm x 13.3 mm) and weighing only 3.3 oz (93 grams)
624 Mhz processor with 256 MB Flash memory
360x400 sharp-resolution display (238 ppi)
Optical trackpad that makes navigation fast and smooth, plus a comfortable keyboard that enables quick and accurate typing
Media player for videos, pictures and music (music plays up to 30 hours), plus dedicated media keys integrated along top of the handset
3.2 MP camera with zoom, autofocus, flash and video recording*
Built-in GPS for location-based applications, as well as photo geotagging
Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) - first BlackBerry smartphone to support 'n'
microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB cards
Premium phone features, including voice activated dialing, speakerphone and Bluetooth® (2.1) with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits (including systems that support the emerging Bluetooth Message Access Profile standard) and other Bluetooth accessories
Access to BlackBerry App World™, featuring a broad and growing catalog of mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones
Supports BlackBerry® Media Sync for easily syncing photos as well as iTunes® and Windows Media® Player music with the smartphone**
Support for tri-band UMTS/HSDPA and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks
Removable, rechargeable 1150 mAhr battery that provides approximately 5.5 hours of talk time on 3G networks

The BlackBerry Pearl 3G ships with BlackBerry® 5 and is BlackBerry® 6 ready. BlackBerry 6 is a new operating system for BlackBerry® smartphones that retains the trusted features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh and engaging experience that is both powerful and easy to use. BlackBerry 6 is expected to be available for the BlackBerry Pearl 3G, subject to carrier certifications, in the coming months.

The new BlackBerry Pearl 3G smartphone will be available in two models and several lustrous colors. The 9100 model features a 20-key condensed QWERTY keyboard and the 9105 model features a 14-key traditional phone keyboard. Both models include SureType® software that can complete words as the user types, making texting fast and accurate. Check with individual carriers for details about availability and pricing. For more information visit www.blackberry.com/pearl3G.

Editors: Additional content, including video, spec sheet and images, is available in RIM's online newsroom: www.rim.com/newsroom/media/gallery.

* Video recording requires a microSD card, which may be sold separately.
** Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies. Photo syncing is currently only available for Windows-based PCs.

About Research In Motion
Research In Motion (RIM) 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® wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld™ 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 Asia Pacific and Latin America. 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.