Blackberry Devices Enable Senior Lead Officers to Increase Focus on Community Policing

Who:
Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton, Los Angeles Police Foundation, Cingular Wireless, Research In Motion (RIM), Senior Lead Officers

What:
News Conference

When:
Wednesday
February 25, 2004
9:00 a.m.

Where:
Ahmanson Recruit Training Center
Westchester

Los Angeles: On Wednesday, February 25, 2004, Chief William J. Bratton will join members of the Los Angeles Police Foundation (LAPF), representatives from Cingular Wireless, and Research In Motion (RIM), to announce the donation of around 200 Blackberry Wireless Handheld Communication Devices for the Los Angeles Police Department’s Senior Lead Officers (SLOs).

As ambassadors of the Department, and liaisons to the community, the SLOs have found that mobile access to e-mail and telephone services benefit their jobs by increasing productivity and responsiveness to the community. These communication devices allow SLOs to find solutions to the community’s needs, ultimately resulting in a safer and enhanced quality of life for those who live, work and visit the  City of Los Angeles.

During the press conference, Senior Lead Officers, and community members who regularly communicate with their SLOs by way of the
Blackberrys, will be available to demonstrate the devices and answer questions.

Los Angeles Police Foundation

The Los Angeles Police Foundation promotes public safety through partnerships, which provide resources to the Los Angeles Police Department, funding essential equipment and projects not included in the city budget. Last year the foundation awarded $1,656,000 in grants, and facilitated many in-kind donations of equipment. Further information is available at www.lapolicefoundation.org

Cingular Wireless

Cingular Wireless, a joint venture between SBC Communications (NYSE – SBC) and BellSouth (NYSE – BLS), serves more than 24 million voice and data customers across the United States. A leader in mobile voice and data communications, Cingular is the only U.S. wireless  carrier to offer Rollover(tm), the wireless plan that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Cingular has launched the world’s  first commercial deployment of wireless services using Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology.

Cingular provides cellular/PCS service in 43 of the top 50 markets nationwide, and provides corporate e-mail and other advanced data services through its GPRS, EDGE and Mobitex packet data networks. Details of the company are available at www.cingular.com.

Research In Motion

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

This news advisory was prepared by Public Information Officer Sara Faden, Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.