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September 16, 2004

Research In Motion Introduces New BlackBerry 7100v in Europe and Australasia

The BlackBerry 7100v™ with its unique design will be available exclusively through Vodafone

Waterloo, ON - Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today introduced the innovative new BlackBerry 7100v™ for mobile professionals, further expanding choice for Vodafone's BlackBerry® customers. The BlackBerry 7100v will be available exclusively from Vodafone and introduced on a phased basis (starting in October) across Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

The BlackBerry 7100v is a breakthrough mobile device, delivering the power of BlackBerry within a sleek and stylish mobile phone design. It has been developed for active mobile professionals who want to be able to manage their work wherever they are and also keep in touch with family, friends and the latest news using a single, all-in-one handset.

In addition to top-of-the-line phone and messaging capabilities, the BlackBerry 7100v includes a large and bright, high-resolution color screen, a speakerphone, Bluetooth support, quad-band radio for international roaming, 32MB flash memory + 4MB SRAM and polyphonic ring tone support.

The typing experience is also exceptional thanks to an amazing new keyboard technology from RIM called SureType™ that effectively converges a phone keypad and a QWERTY keyboard to fit elegantly within the size constraints of a traditional 'candy bar' phone design. Through an integrated keyboard and software system, SureType provides users with an instinctively familiar look and feel and allows them to dial phone numbers and type messages quickly, accurately and comfortably. SureType dramatically outshines the traditional multi-tap phone approach and will fundamentally change the way people think about typing on mobile phones.

The BlackBerry 7100v and SureType support various languages including English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

"The new BlackBerry 7100v with SureType keyboard technology is the result of many years of research and innovation. We have listened to mobile users and created a new device that we believe will attract a whole new audience to BlackBerry for the first time," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion. "A great deal of care has gone into the design of this sleek and sophisticated handset to deliver exceptional phone, email, messaging and browsing capabilities together with an extremely effective keyboard and a large, vibrant, color screen."

"Our business customers, particularly those who are self employed or running small to medium sized businesses, have been asking us for a simple device that combines the efficiency and basic features of a mobile phone, with the benefits of being able to access email and attachments on the move," said Peter Bamford, Chief Marketing Officer at Vodafone. "The BlackBerry 7100v offers a unique addition to the family of Vodafone business solutions."

"The BlackBerry 7100v is evidence of RIM's ability to innovate by producing leading-edge, aesthetically appealing technology while at the same time prioritizing the needs of the user in terms of battery life, functionality and user interface," said Andy Brown, Program Manager, EMEA Mobile Computing and Mobile Devices at IDC. "The new BlackBerry 7100v delivers a fully integrated BlackBerry experience in a small, sleek 'smartphone' form factor. With features that include a bright, dynamic color display and revolutionary SureType QWERTY keyboard it will be an attractive prospect to customers looking for superior messaging in a mobile phone design."

The BlackBerry 7100v weighs 120g and has a battery life (using the standard battery) of over four hours talk time and over eight days standby. A hands-free earpiece, USB cable and standard holster are included. Additional accessories such as holsters and car chargers will also be available and the BlackBerry 7100v supports Bluetooth headset and car-kit profiles.

For individual users, the BlackBerry 7100v with BlackBerry Internet Service™ will be ideal. Users will be able to integrate their new BlackBerry handset with up to ten business or personal email accounts without the need for a special server or IT support. It takes just a few steps by the user to get up and running.

For corporate users, the BlackBerry 7100v can connect to RIM's enterprise platform - BlackBerry Enterprise Server™ - supporting secure, wireless email, calendar appointments and other corporate data.

Photographs of the BlackBerry 7100v™ are available on the BlackBerry website: http://www.rim.com/news/kit/media/downloads/index.shtml.

Vodafone

Vodafone is the world's largest mobile community, with equity interests in 26 countries and Partner Networks in a further 13 countries, serving over 139 million proportionate customers. Vodafone's global consumer service offering, Vodafone live!™, opens up a world of mobile colour communication, bringing news, information, e-mail, chat, location-based services, games and shopping to customers' mobile devices.

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® wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld™ 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.

The BlackBerry, SureType 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. Vodafone is a trademark of the Vodafone Group. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners.

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.