VIVA, Alcatel-Lucent and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced the launch of the BlackBerry solution for VIVA customers in Bahrain. The BlackBerry solution brings together smartphones, software and services to allow easy wireless access to email, phone, calendar, web, multimedia and other business and lifestyle applications.
“VIVA customers want access to the latest technology that can help them manage all aspects of their lives,” said Ibrahim Al Omar, CEO of VIVA Bahrain. “The unique BlackBerry solution fits perfectly with VIVA’s mission to make life easier and will allow users to access voice, email, Internet and a wide range of mobile data services”.
“We welcome Alcatel-Lucent as a partner and look forward to working with this world class supplier of communication solutions. We are also proud to be offering the BlackBerry solution to our customers and we are confident that they will enjoy its many personal and organisational benefits,” added Al Omar.
Amr El Leithy, Head of MEA business for Alcatel-Lucent, added: “This project strengthens Alcatel-Lucent’s position as a global provider of communications. With this offering, VIVA Bahrain will be able to expand its business opportunities and enable its customers to benefit from the high flexibility offered by the BlackBerry solution, allowing them to stay connected anytime, anywhere.”
Mark Guibert, Vice President Corporate Marketing, RIM, also added: “We are pleased to work with Alcatel-Lucent and VIVA Bahrain to introduce the BlackBerry solution to VIVA’s customers. BlackBerry smartphones are popular with users around the world who want advanced communications and multimedia features together with a choice of stylish designs.”
At launch, VIVA Bahrain will offer its customers the BlackBerry Bold™ 9700 smartphone, which includes an extensive array of high-end communications and multimedia features in a compact and highly refined design that appeals to customers for both professional and personal use. It offers top-of-the-line performance, functionality and features with support for 3G HSDPA networks around the world, a next-generation (624 MHz) processor, 256 MB Flash memory, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi, a 3.2MP camera and a sharp, dazzling display.
Cutting edge engineering and premium finishes extend to the exterior of the handset as well, with a smoothly integrated touch-sensitive trackpad and a highly tactile, distinctive, fretted keyboard. The dark chrome frame and leatherette back add to the new smartphone’s sleek and elegant look, while the narrow profile, balanced weight and soft-touch sides allow it to feel incredibly comfortable in one hand.
VIVA is offering BlackBerry Enterprise Server for corporate customers and BlackBerry Internet Service for smaller businesses and individual users.
BlackBerry Enterprise Server tightly integrates with IBM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange and Novell GroupWise and works with existing enterprise systems to enable secure, push-based wireless access to email and other corporate data. BlackBerry Internet Service is designed for smaller businesses and individuals and enables users to access up to 10 supported corporate and personal email accounts (including most popular ISP email accounts such as Yahoo! Mail and Google Mail) from a BlackBerry smartphone.
Based on its distribution agreement with RIM, Alcatel-Lucent leveraged its strong local presence in the region to provide VIVA Bahrain with the project management, end-to-end implementation, installation, and on-going support services for delivering the BlackBerry solution to the Bahraini market. With Alcatel-Lucent managing integration and deployment, VIVA can focus on delivering customer facing services in order to quickly meet market demand.
