Orascom Telecom and Research In Motion Announce Plans To Bring BlackBe

    News Editors

    CAIRO, Egypt & WATERLOO, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2005--Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E. (LSE:GDR)(CAIRO:ORTE)(ALEXANDRIA:ORAT)("OTH") and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today announced plans to offer the BlackBerry(R) wireless communications solution to mobile customers in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. BlackBerry will operate on Orascom's GSM/GPRS networks and international roaming will be supported in countries where Orascom has GPRS roaming agreements in place.(i)

    BlackBerry, developed and manufactured by RIM, provides always-on, push-based, mobile access to e-mail and other communications and information for both individual and corporate customers. BlackBerry will enable Orascom's subscribers to access e-mail, phone, text messaging, calendar, Internet browser, organizer and corporate data applications via an integrated wireless platform. With their BlackBerry device, Orascom users will be able to easily and remotely manage their e-mail, appointments and contacts, as well as access corporate applications.

    "Orascom Telecom is committed to providing its customers with the most powerful mobile communications tools available and we are therefore pleased to be working with RIM to introduce BlackBerry, the internationally popular wireless solution, to our subscribers," said Ossama Bessada, Services Development Director at Orascom Telecom. "By using BlackBerry from Orascom, mobile customers will enhance the way they communicate at work and in their personal lives, increasing their productivity, efficiency and responsiveness."

    "BlackBerry is an extremely powerful business tool that provides an advanced wireless solution for communication and information which will enable our customers to be wirelessly connected throughout the day. It is also an excellent opportunity for international travelers visiting the countries we operate in to roam on our networks and connect directly to their offices using this highly developed technology," added Emad Farid, Executive Officer for Operations Control at Orascom Telecom.

    The BlackBerry service will be available with the easy-to-use BlackBerry 7290 Wireless Handheld(TM) and the BlackBerry 7100g(TM) business phone.

    "BlackBerry is designed to provide mobile professionals with the best combined wireless email, phone and data experience and that optimized mobile experience has fuelled its adoption by over three million subscribers worldwide," said Mark Guibert, Vice President, Corporate Marketing at Research In Motion. "BlackBerry also provides a secure, standards-based, robust and extensible platform for a wide range of wireless enterprise applications. We are very pleased to work with Orascom Telecom to bring BlackBerry to its customers in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia."

    For Orascom Telecom's corporate customers, BlackBerry Enterprise Server(TM) software tightly integrates with Microsoft(R) Exchange, IBM Lotus(R) Domino(TM) and Novell GroupWise(R) and works with existing enterprise systems to enable secure, push-based wireless access to email and other corporate data.

    For individuals and smaller businesses, BlackBerry Internet Service(TM) allows users to access up to ten corporate and/or personal email accounts (including Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino and many popular ISP email accounts) from a single device.

    Pricing and availability details for Orascom Telecom's networks in specific countries will be available from Orascom at a later date.

    About Orascom Telecom Holding

    Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E. ("Orascom Telecom") is a leading mobile telecommunications company operating in nine emerging markets in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, having a total population under license of approximately 520 million with an average mobile telephony penetration of approximately 6%. Orascom Telecom operates GSM networks in Algeria ("Djezzy"), Egypt ("MobiNil"), Pakistan ("Mobilink"), Iraq ("IraQna"), Bangladesh ("Banglalink"), Tunisia ("Tunisiana"), Congo Brazzaville ("Libertis"), Democratic Republic of Congo ("Oasis") and Zimbabwe ("Telecel Zimbabwe"). Orascom Telecom had 14.5 million subscribers as of December 2004. Orascom Telecom is traded on the Cairo & Alexandria Stock Exchange under the symbol (ORTE.CA, ORAT EY), and on the London Stock Exchange its GDR is traded under the symbol (ORTEq.L, OTLD LI).

    About Research In Motion (RIM)

    Research In Motion 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.

    (i)Check with Orascom for roaming services.

    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. The Company 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. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners.



    Orascom Telecom Holding (LSE:GDR)
    Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM) (TSX:RIM)

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CONTACT: Orascom Hatim E. El Gammal Investor Relations Director +202461 5121 hgammal@otelecom.com OR Media Contacts: Research In Motion Hotwire PR for RIM +44 207 608 2500 OR Brodeur for RIM Courtney Flaherty +1 212.771.3637 cflaherty@brodeur.com OR RIM, Asia Pacific Katie Lee + 852 6277 6841 kalee@rim.com OR Investor Contact: RIM Investor Relations +1 519.888.7465 investor_relations@rim.com

KEYWORD: NEW YORK PAKISTAN EGYPT UNITED KINGDOM INTERNATIONAL AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TELECOMMUNICATIONS PRODUCT SOURCE: Research In Motion

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