Press Release

December 12, 2000

Motient and Research In Motion Expand Business Relationship to Include Reselling of Network Services

Research In Motion Plans to Add 50,000 BlackBerry Subscribers to Motient Network

Waterloo, ON and Reston, VA - Research In Motion Limited (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSE: RIM) and Motient Corporation (NASDAQ: MTNT) announced today an expanded business relationship whereby RIM will resell Motient's network services in conjunction with the BlackBerry™ wireless email solution through RIM's distribution channels.

Under the terms of the new agreement, RIM expects to add 50,000 BlackBerry subscribers to the Motient network during the next 12 months. This sales activity is incremental to RIM Wireless Handhelds™ already ordered by Motient for sale by Motient's distribution channels in the provisioning of Motient's eLink^SM branded email service and other wireless offerings.

"New and existing customers are now able to take advantage of the unmatched geographic coverage, in-building penetration, capacity, and reliability of the Motient network," said Walter V. Purnell, Jr., president and CEO of Motient Corporation. "Existing customers who already have a BlackBerry Enterprise Server will be able to add RIM 850™ and RIM 857™ handhelds, to their existing BlackBerry Enterprise Server without any modifications required."

BlackBerry is a secure, integrated, wireless email solution developed by RIM that allows mobile professionals to enjoy untethered access to their corporate email wherever they go. BlackBerry Exchange Edition™ is designed specifically for corporate environments using Microsoft® Exchange and addresses the strict security and IT standards required by Fortune 500 companies.

"Advanced wireless communications solutions such as BlackBerry require the power of two-way packet data networks," said Don Morrison, chief operating officer at RIM. "We are pleased to announce our expanded relationship with Motient and offer airtime on the Motient nationwide network as part of the BlackBerry wireless email solution. Both Motient and RIM are committed to providing a compelling and high-quality customer experience through this agreement."

About Motient

Motient (www.motient.com) owns and operates an integrated terrestrial/satellite network and provides a wide range of two-way mobile and Internet communications services principally to business-to-business customers and enterprises. The company provides eLink^SM and BlackBerry™ by Motient two-way wireless email service to customers accessing email through corporate servers, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and Mail Service Provider (MSP) accounts, and paging network suppliers. Motient serves a variety of markets including mobile professionals, telemetry, transportation, field service, and nationwide voice dispatch offering coverage to all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and hundreds of miles of U.S. coastal waters.

About Research In Motion

Research In Motion Limited is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the mobile communications market. Through development and integration of hardware, software and services, RIM provides solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers around the world to enhance their products and services with wireless connectivity. RIM's portfolio of award-winning products includes the RIM Wireless Handheld™ product line, the BlackBerry™ wireless email solution, wireless personal computer card adapters, embedded radio-modems and software development tools. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario RIM operates offices in Canada, the United States and England. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE: RIM). For more information, visit www.rim.net. Investors may contact investor_relations@rim.net. Customers may contact info@rim.net.

eLink is a service mark and Motient is a trademark of Motient Corporation

Research In Motion, RIM, the RIM logo, RIM 850, RIM 857, RIM Wireless Handheld, BlackBerry, BlackBerry Exchange Edition, the BlackBerry logo, and the "envelope in motion" symbol are trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. Research In Motion and RIM are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other brands, products and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements in this news release are described in Motient Corporation's registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-42104) and in Motient's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 and its other periodic filings and reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of such reports and filings are available upon request from Motient Corporation's Investor Relations Department.

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. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks relating to possible product defects and product liability, risks related to international sales and potential foreign currency exchange fluctuations, risks related to the year 2000 issue, continued acceptance of RIM's products, increased levels of competition, technological changes, dependence on intellectual property rights and other risks detailed from time to time in RIM's periodic reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities.