GEMA and BlackBerry Join Forces to Help Companies Transition to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 and BlackBerry 10 Devices 08.05.2013

GEMA and BlackBerry Join Forces to Help Companies Transition to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 and BlackBerry 10 Devices

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND and WATERLOO, ON,  May 8, 2013 —  The Global Enterprise Mobility Alliance (GEMA) and BlackBerry® (NASDAQ: BBRY; TSX: BB) today announced the signing of a BlackBerry® 10 Readiness Services global agreement to make the transition to BlackBerry Enterprise® Service 10 and migration to BlackBerry® 10 simple and seamless for enterprise customers worldwide.

Under this agreement, GEMA will provide the BlackBerry® Change Management and Planning with Remote Installation Service to customers who need assistance in planning and executing the transition to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, as well as introducing BlackBerry 10 devices. Currently, GEMA members are advising and supporting more than 150 organizations with the transition, and to date have helped more than 30 customers with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 installations globally.

"We are pleased with the service GEMA, in particular SCHIFFL (one of GEMA’s founding members), has provided in installing and managing our BlackBerry 10 infrastructure across Europe. GEMA's competence and professionalism enabled us to go live directly after launch of the BlackBerry 10 platform in January," said Jens Bartolatus, Managing Director/CIO of LE CROBAG GmbH & Co. KG.

GEMA members provide the new BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 as a managed service. The service delivers a cost-efficient, secure, reliable and scalable solution that provides a globally consistent approach to service delivery and technical expertise, enabling:

• Mobile device management (MDM) and administration for BlackBerry, iOS, and Android smartphones and tablets


• The ability to push mandatory applications and updates to BlackBerry users and alerts to iOS and Android users of required applications


• The capability to utilize and manage BlackBerry® Balance™ technology, which enables a customer to use the device for both work and personal purposes by keeping business information and applications highly secure and separate from personal information

Nick McQuire, Managing Director and CEO of GEMA International Limited, said, “GEMA is committed to helping companies around the globe effectively use mobile technology. Trends like BYOD and the flourishing diversity of devices in the market are making it very challenging for enterprises to secure and manage their information, while still making it accessible to their employees. As such, the GEMA members continue to provide frequent counsel on mobile device management to businesses around the world and are excited to help customers such as Le Crobag transition to BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10."

David J. Smith, EVP, Enterprise Mobile Computing at BlackBerry said, “GEMA and BlackBerry continue to work closely together, with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 providing a robust and secure way for organizations to manage smartphones and tablets, and GEMA providing sound guidance and the support to help multinational customers make enterprise mobility a reality within their organizations.”

GEMA currently comprises six members that collectively span much of the globe: Emitac Mobile Solutions, LLC (EMS) (Middle East, Africa, CIS, and Eastern Europe); MSC Mobility Pty Ltd (Australia and New Zealand); Navita (Latin America); Beijing Nation Sky (China); SCHIFFL GmbH & Co. KG (Germany, Austria and Switzerland); and Vox Mobile Inc. (U.S. and Canada).

For more information on the BlackBerry 10 Readiness Services, customers may contact their sales representative from BlackBerry or visit www.blackberry.com/blackberry10ready and click on BlackBerry10 Readiness Services.

 

About GEMA

The Global Enterprise Mobility Alliance, GEMA, is the leading provider of global managed mobility services. Multi-national organizations today are looking for transparent and seamless services for the deployment, support, and management of their mobile workforce. GEMA’s core offerings of Assist, Deploy, Command, and Advise enable organizations to scale globally while receiving local in-country support where they operate around the world.

GEMA’s founding members are leading Managed Mobility Services providers in their own markets and include the following: Emitac Mobile Solutions, LLC (EMS) (Middle East, Africa, CIS, and Eastern Europe); MSC Mobility Pty Ltd (Australia and New Zealand); Navita (Latin America); Nation Sky (China); SCHIFFL GmbH & Co. KG (Germany, Austria and Switzerland); and Vox Mobile Inc. (US and Canada). Additional GEMA members in Europe, Asia, and Latin America will increase the scope and diversity of the Alliance in the coming months.

GEMA is operated by GEMA International Limited, a joint venture. To find out more and to engage GEMA visit www.thegema.com.

 

About BlackBerry

A global leader in wireless innovation, BlackBerry® revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, BlackBerry aims to inspire the success of our millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. BlackBerry is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: BBRY) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BB). For more information, visit www.blackberry.com

Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used herein, words such as "expect", "anticipate", "estimate",  "may",  "will", "should", "intend," "believe", and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by RIM in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that RIM believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause RIM's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of RIM's Annual Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on RIM's forward-looking statements. RIM has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

BlackBerry, RIM, Research In Motion and related trademarks, names and logos are the property of Research In Motion Limited and are registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world. All other brands, names and marks are the property of their respective owners. RIM is not responsible for any third party products or services.

 

Contacts:

Lucy Dee

BlackBerry

+44-207-861-2548

BlackBerry@goodrelations.co.uk

 

Patty Oien

Breakaway Communications

+415-358-2482

poien@breakawaycom.com