com:20091015:RnsO8137A
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RNS Number : 8137A  
  
Vodafone Group Plc  
  
15 October 2009  
  
15 October 2009  
  
VODAFONE AND RIM INTRODUCE THE   
  
BLACKBERRY STORM2 SMARTPHONE   
  
London, UK and Waterloo, ON, October 15: Vodafone and Research In Motion (RIM) 
(Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today introduced the BlackBerry(R) Storm2(tm) 
smartphone for customers in seven European countries as well as South Africa.   
  
The second generation of RIM's innovative and award-winning touch-screen 
smartphone, the BlackBerry Storm2 significantly improves the BlackBerry(R) 
touch-screen platform with new technology and new features to let customers stay 
easily connected to the people, places and things that matter most.   
  
In the busy holiday gift buying period, customers in the UK and Ireland will be 
able to get the new smartphone first through Vodafone, and it will be offered 
exclusively by Vodafone in Germany, Netherlands and Spain. It will also be made 
available in France, Italy and South Africa in time for Christmas.   
  
The BlackBerry Storm2 with BlackBerry OS 5 evolves the BlackBerry touch-screen 
platform with hundreds of hardware and software enhancements.   
  
- ends -  
  
Note to editors  
  
The BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone (model 9520) from Vodafone features:  
  
New SurePress Technology  
  
The BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone introduces a new SurePress(tm) technology based 
on an electronic suspension system that provides the user with tactile feedback 
when the touch-screen is pressed. The new system responds equally to gentle 
pressure applied anywhere on the surface of the screen and makes clicking the 
display practically effortless. Typing on the smartphone's virtual keyboards is 
easier, more comfortable and more accurate. The new SurePress technology also 
allows the user to type a letter with one thumb even while their other thumb may 
still be touching or resting on another letter, enabling faster typing and 
multi-key actions such as Shift or Alt -key combinations.  
  
Hardware Features  
  
 
 * Smooth design and premium finish with sloped edges, chrome accents, glass 
lens and stainless steel backplate 
 * Large (3.25"), dazzling, high resolution 360 x 480 display at 184 ppi  
 * Capacitive touch-screen with integrated functions (Send, End, Menu, Escape) 
and new SurePress technology that makes clicking the display practically 
effortless 
 * Global connectivity support: UMTS/HSPA (2100Mhz), quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM and 
Wi-Fi(R) (802.11 b/g) networks  
 * 3.2 MP camera with variable zoom, autofocus, flash and video recording 
 * 256 MB of Flash memory 
 * 2 GB of onboard memory storage and a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that 
supports up to 16 GB cards today and is expected to support 32 GB cards when 
available 
 * Premium and easy-to-access phone features, background noise suppression 
technology, loud distortion-free speakerphone and face detection (proximity 
sensor) that prevents accidental clicks and blanks the screen while the user is 
on the phone 
 * Media player for videos, pictures and music, plus BlackBerry(R) Desktop 
Manager for both PCs and Macs, and BlackBerry(R) Media Sync for easily syncing 
iTunes(R) and Windows Media(R) Player music with the smartphone*  
 * Vodafone's music client pre-installed, giving access to an extensive 
catalogue of artists 
 * A 3.5 mm stereo headset jack and dedicated volume controls 
 * Bluetooth(R) (2.1) with support for Secure Simple Pairing, hands-free 
headsets, stereo headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals 
 * Built-in GPS for maps and other location-based applications, as well as photo 
geotagging  
 * Access to BlackBerry App World(tm), featuring a broad and growing catalog of 
mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones. 
Categories include games, entertainment, IM and social networking, news, 
weather, productivity and more. Applications developed for the original 
BlackBerry Storm are fully compatible with the BlackBerry Storm2 
 * BlackBerry(R) Internet Service and BlackBerry(R) Enterprise Server support 
 * Removable, rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery that provides approximately 6 hours 
of talk time on 3G networks and 280 hours of standby time  
  
BlackBerry OS 5  
  
 
 * More responsive experience and includes usability and visual enhancements 
such as inertial scrolling, spin boxes that make it easier to set dates and 
times, gradient shading on buttons and more use of animation  
 * Typing accuracy and selection have been significantly refined 
 * BlackBerry(R) Browser improved with faster JavaScript and CSS processing as 
well as support for Gears and BlackBerry Widgets 
 * Customers running BlackBerry(R) Enterprise Server 5 will gain the ability to: 
 * Set follow-up Flags on the handset like they can in Microsoft(R) Office 
Outlook(R) 
 * Manage Microsoft Exchange email folders (Add, Rename, Move, Delete) on the 
handset 
 * Access remote files shares (Windows Shares); Save, View, Edit, and Email 
documents from remote file shares 
 * Forward appointments and view calendar attachments on the handset 
 * Benefit from wireless sync improvements for Contacts, including sync for 
multiple contact folders, personal Distribution Lists and contacts in 
Public/Shared folders  
  
* Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital 
rights management technologies.  
  
Pricing 
Pricing will be announced by the individual in-country operating companies. As 
an indication, Vodafone UK will be offering the BlackBerry Storm2 free from £35 
per month on a 24-month contract that includes 600 minutes talk-time, unlimited 
BlackBerry Internet Service, unlimited text messaging, as well as unlimited 
access to VMI (Vodafone Mobile Internet) and broadband.  
  
For more information please visit www.blackberry.com/storm   
  
For further information:Vodafone Group 
Media Relations 
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 664444Groupmediarelations@vodafone.com  
  
About Vodafone  
  
Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile communications group with 
approximately 315 million proportionate customers as at 30 June 2009. Vodafone 
currently has equity interests in 31 countries across five continents and around 
40 partner networks worldwide. For more information, please visit 
www.vodafone.com  
  
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(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. RIM 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. Wi-Fi is a 
registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. All other brands, product names, 
company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their 
respective owners. RIM assumes no obligations or liability and makes no 
representation, warranty, endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of 
any third party products or services.  
  
 
This information is provided by RNS  
  
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange  
  
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