Vodacom and RIM Launch the BlackBerry Storm Smartphone in South Africa

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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Feel the power of the BlackBerry Storm smartphone - the World's First touch-screen that "clicks"

Johannesburg, South Africa and Waterloo, ON- Vodacom South Africa and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the availability of the BlackBerry

src="http://41.192.255.27/vcozacontent/images/services/blackberry/symbol_reg.jpg"/> Storm

src="http://41.192.255.27/vcozacontent/images/services/blackberry/symbol_trade.jpg"/> smartphone in the South African market. The BlackBerry Storm will be available from Vodacom on January 29th.

Delivering the renowned functionality of the BlackBerry

src="http://41.192.255.27/vcozacontent/images/services/blackberry/symbol_reg.jpg"/> solution, the BlackBerry Storm brings entertainment, information and communications to the tips of your fingers.

The stylish smartphone boasts exceptional performance, a stunning display and rich features including 3G (HSDPA) network support, integrated GPS, desktop-style web pages, advanced multimedia, a first class phone, camera and the industry's most robust messaging capabilities - designed to give users an incredibly fast and powerful mobile experience.

"The BlackBerry Storm is a next-generation smartphone designed to meet the communication and multimedia needs of the most demanding customers. With its renowned communications capabilities, rich multimedia features and stylish design, the BlackBerry Storm allows customers to make the most of their time on the go with a fashionable and lifestyle-friendly smartphone," says Shameel Joosub, Managing Director, Vodacom South Africa.

The BlackBerry Storm smartphone features the unique and innovative SurePress

src="http://41.192.255.27/vcozacontent/images/services/blackberry/symbol_trade.jpg"/> touch-screen, which depresses ever so slightly to aid in typing and navigation and to give users an experience they can actually feel. Through the revolutionary SurePress touch-screen, the virtual keyboard on the BlackBerry Storm responds like a physical keyboard and supports single-touch, multi-touch and gestures for intuitive and efficient navigation as well as easy and precise typing.

"The 'clickable' SurePress touch-screen is a remarkable innovation that dramatically enhances the touch interface and user experience. We are very pleased to introduce the first touch-screen BlackBerry smartphone together with Vodacom in South Africa," said Mark Guibert, Vice President, Corporate Marketing, RIM.

The BlackBerry Storm also features a built-in accelerometer, which automatically switches the display as the user rotates the handset for use in landscape or portrait. When in portrait mode, users can type out a quick instant message or dial a number using either RIM's SureType

src="http://41.192.255.27/vcozacontent/images/services/blackberry/symbol_reg.jpg"/> keyboard layout or a 12-key multi-tap keyboard. When the handset is rotated to landscape, the user is presented with a full QWERTY keyboard.

The BlackBerry Storm smartphone brings images to life with stunning clarity through its gorgeous 3.25-inch, high resolution (480x360-pixels at 184 ppi), colour display. A multimedia powerhouse, the BlackBerry Storm smartphone has rich media player that handles a number of music formats. It can even be synchronised with iTunes

src="http://41.192.255.27/vcozacontent/images/services/blackberry/symbol_reg.jpg"/> so customers can enjoy their music on the move*, or synced wirelessly via Bluetooth

src="http://41.192.255.27/vcozacontent/images/services/blackberry/symbol_reg.jpg"/> to the BlackBerry

src="http://41.192.255.27/vcozacontent/images/services/blackberry/symbol_reg.jpg"/> Remote Stereo Gateway to enjoy songs through a home stereo. It also comes standard with a premium stereo headset. The built-in speaker and stereo headset both deliver music with excellent sound quality. The BlackBerry Storm also has 1GB of onboard memory storage, comes standard with an 8GB microSD/SDHD memory card and supports up to 16 GB of storage per memory card.

BlackBerry Storm users can also find their way in unfamiliar surroundings thanks to built-in GPS and Vodafone SatNav which comes preloaded. Vodafone SatNave enables users to find an address and track their location simply and easily. It can also display the route on a 3D map, together with audible step-by-step directions. The 3.2 MP digital camera with autofocus, a powerful flash and video recording rounds out the smartphone's rich multimedia capabilities.

Preloaded with an incredible selection of applications that were custom-built for use on BlackBerry

src="http://41.192.255.27/vcozacontent/images/services/blackberry/symbol_reg.jpg"/> smartphones, the BlackBerry Storm enables users to simply and easily keep web community pages current, continue instant message chats or even add pictures directly to Facebook

src="http://41.192.255.27/vcozacontent/images/services/blackberry/symbol_reg.jpg"/>.

Preloaded applications include:

• Facebook for BlackBerry Smartphones
• Windows Live src="http://41.192.255.27/vcozacontent/images/services/blackberry/symbol_trade.jpg"/>Messenger for BlackBerry Smartphones
• Yahoo src="http://41.192.255.27/vcozacontent/images/services/blackberry/symbol_reg.jpg"/>Messenger for BlackBerry Smartphones
• Flickr src="http://41.192.255.27/vcozacontent/images/services/blackberry/symbol_trade.jpg"/>Photo Uploader for BlackBerry Smartphones
• Vodafone SatNav, powered by Telmap SatNav technology

The BlackBerry Storm smartphone will be available to both Vodacom's Prepaid and Contract customers from participating Vodacom outlets, across South Africa. Customers can also call Vodacom Direct 0860 123 123 or go to www.vodacomdirect.co.za for the best deals and have the smartphone delivered to their door.

Starting as low as R59.00 per month for the BlackBerry

src="http://41.192.255.27/vcozacontent/images/services/blackberry/symbol_reg.jpg"/> Internet Service (Prepaid and Contract) and R98.00 for BlackBerry

src="http://41.192.255.27/vcozacontent/images/services/blackberry/symbol_reg.jpg"/> Enterprise Service (excluding device), customers get unlimited email, unlimited Internet browsing, as well as unlimited use of pre-loaded data applications (for accessing sites and services such as Vodafone SatNav, Yahoo! Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, Flickr and Facebook from the handset) without incurring any additional data charges**. These pre-loaded data applications are available in conjunction with all personal and corporate BlackBerry service options for the BlackBerry Storm.

For further information call Vodacom's 24-hour Customer Care Centre on111, free from a Vodacom cellphone or082 111from any other cellphone, or go towww.vodacom.co.zaorwww.blackberry.co.za.

* Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies.

** Terms and conditions apply.

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