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Visto Declaration Asserts Viable Blackberry Alternatives Exist in Event of Injunction
To Be Filed Today in U.S District Court
(Redwood Shores, CA, February 1, 2006) - If a Federal Court shuts down Blackberry service next month, consumers need not worry about finding alternatives that measure up, according to a Visto declaration that will be submitted today in the U.S. District Court handling the Research in Motion (RIM) vs. NTP case. The declaration also asserts that if the court were to enjoin the Blackberry service, Visto could quickly absorb all U.S. BlackBerry users.
"Research in Motion would like the courts to blindly believe that an injunction on BlackBerries would cause great harm to our country's national defense and economy, when that is not true," said Brian Bogosian, Chief Executive Officer of Visto Corporation. "If BlackBerries are hit with an injunction, Visto will be willing and able to pick up the slack."
Visto is a leading global provider of secure push email services with a client list that includes Cingular, Sprint Nextel, the Vodafone Group, Rogers Wireless, and many other companies. Visto Mobile service, which gives consumers the ability to access their email without compromising security, is available in 75 mobile phones and devices, including the Palm Treo 650 and the Motorola RAZR. Visto, a pioneer in the wireless email market, holds 25 patents and has 57 patents pending.
"Mobile email users are looking for a safe harbor in the face of disruptions caused by legal penalties against patent infringers," said Bogosian. "Visto is one of the very few companies that provide secure push email service using the technology that we have developed and protected."
In the declaration, Visto rejects RIM's previous assertion that there are no viable substitutes to BlackBerry devices. It also outlines several benefits of alternative BlackBerry options, including that the architecture is more secure and can be used in more products.
"The Visto system is more versatile because it is technologically agnostic, in that it can run on a much wider variety of mobile phones and on most email systems," states the declaration. "Unlike most RIM products, Visto's mobile email service does not require specialized hardware and can be obtained in multiple ways."
Visto also rejects RIM's claim that their products are unique because they developed the entire system. "The BlackBerry service is unique in that it runs over proprietary hardware, which is in fact not an advantage," reads the declaration. "By contrast, Visto allows the consumer to purchase competing handheld devices from a wide array of sources."
About Visto
Visto delivers the leading global platform for mobile operators to provide wireless push email to the broadest set of mobile devices. Visto's open solution enables email for the mass market, targeting large enterprises, small businesses, mobile professionals and consumers. Visto's customized, brandable solutions are available through mobile operators worldwide including Cingular, Elisa, KPN, Rogers Wireless, SmarTone, SFR, Sprint-Nextel, TELUS Mobility and the Vodafone Group.
Established in 1996, Visto is backed by Oak Investment Partners, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, DFJ ePlanet Ventures, VantagePoint Venture Partners, Meritech Capital Partners, Rustic Canyon Ventures, Allegis Capital and Blueprint Ventures. For more information, visit www.visto.com.