(NC)-Ask any of the over eight million BlackBerry users to give up their popular hand held devices and you will likely get the same answer: “Never!” That’s because they have quickly become indispensable communications tools providing access to time-sensitive information including e-mail, phone, messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. They also double as personal digital assistants with calendar, address book and to-do list functionality.

“As with so many technological innovations, users forget how much engineering brainpower goes into their development and continuing innovation,” observes Michael Monette, P.Eng., president and chair of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. “The maker of BlackBerry smartphones, Research In Motion (RIM) holds over 1,000 patents on its products and employs hundreds of engineers in various disciplines including Design, Hardware, Software, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering.”

RIM had a modest beginning with an ambitious vision. The company was founded in 1984 by University of Waterloo Engineering student Mike Lazaridis who is currently president and co-CEO, and University of Windsor Engineering student Douglas Fregin, in charge of Operations as vice-president.

Today, more than 20 years later, the original ambition and vision of two engineers has translated into success. RIM is one of the world’s leading designers, manufacturers and marketers of solutions for the mobile communications market.

Through development and integration of hardware, software and services, RIM’s portfolio of award-winning products now includes the BlackBerry wireless platform, a range of BlackBerry smartphones, software development tools, radio-modems, and software and hardware licensing agreements.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

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