LITTLE ROCK, Ark. and WATERLOO, Ontario - Alltel Wireless, America's largest network, and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced that the BlackBerry® 8703e wireless handset is available to Alltel customers. The BlackBerry 8703e supports phone, e-mail, messaging, organizer, browser and other mobile applications that work on Alltel's next generation high-speed Axcess Broadband network and supports turn-by-turn navigation with its built-in GPS capabilities.
"The BlackBerry 8703e is a great fit for mobile professionals who demand superior e-mail, browsing and voice performance in a secure, lightweight, all-in-one device," said Wade McGill, senior vice president of product management for Alltel Wireless. "On Alltel's Axcess Broadband network, the BlackBerry 8703e provides customers with wireless access to the Internet at speeds comparable to wired broadband connections such as cable modem or DSL."
The BlackBerry 8703e is available from Alltel for $249.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate. The price is available to new customers on two-year service agreements as well as to existing eligible customers on qualifying rate plans.
"The BlackBerry 8703e running on the Alltel Network is a high-performance productivity tool that delivers the functionality and flexibility that mobile professionals want while away from their desk," said Mark Guibert, vice president, corporate marketing, Research In Motion. "We are very pleased to be working together to offer this powerful handset to Alltel customers."
The BlackBerry 8703e allows customers to maintain wireless connectivity nationwide to a full suite of applications. It features a bright, high-resolution color LCD screen that provides ample workspace for viewing e-mail, Web pages, and other applications. Intelligent light sensing technology automatically optimizes screen lighting levels for viewing in outdoor, indoor and dark environments. The full QWERTY keyboard enables rapid, efficient and accurate message typing and information entry on the go.
The BlackBerry 8703e also offers first-rate phone features in a design that provides a natural feel while dialing. Placing calls with one hand is fast and simple and the handset includes large, dedicated "send," "end," and "mute" phone keys. The handset features intuitive call management tools, such as smart dialing, conference calling, speed dialing and call forwarding. And it comes with a built-in speakerphone, support for polyphonic and MP3 ringtones and integrated Bluetooth® wireless technology.
The BlackBerry 8703e runs on Alltel Wireless' Axcess Broadband network, which offers average data speeds of 400 to 700 Kbps with maximum speeds of up to 2.4 Mbps (1). The EVDO (evolution data optimized) service provides Alltel Wireless customers with the ability to surf the Internet and access e-mail, calendars and large, graphic-rich files in dozens of markets, including Cleveland, Charlotte, Tampa and Phoenix. Alltel plans to launch Axcess Broadband in numerous additional cities in 2006 and 2007, giving it one of the largest EVDO footprints of any U.S. carrier. Where Axcess Broadband is not yet offered, the BlackBerry 8703e operates seamlessly on Alltel's Axcess MobileLink 1xRTT network with average data speeds of 40-70 Kbps with bursts up to 144 Kbps.
Alltel is offering the BlackBerry 8703e with key value-added applications designed to maximize utility from the powerful handset. A mobile software store from Handango™ enables on-device software purchases from a catalog of productivity and entertainment titles. Handmark® Pocket Express™ delivers news, weather, sports, maps, directory look-ups, movie showtimes and other mobile content to Alltel subscribers. And TeleNav GPS Navigator™ leverages the built-in assisted-GPS technology of the handset to provide turn-by-turn, voice and onscreen driving directions to virtually any U.S. destination. Customers can find these applications at handango.com/alltel, handmark.com/alltel, and telenav.com, respectively, and will soon be able to have them delivered via "Virtual Preload" directly to their BlackBerry 8703e.
