Graham Pitcher

Anniversary: RIM announces the BlackBerry in 1999

Blogs

On 19 January 1999, Research In Motion issued a press release which included this paragraph:
'Research In Motion announced the introduction and availability of BlackBerry, a breakthrough wireless email solution for mobile professionals. As part of the BlackBerry offering, RIM introduced its newest wireless handheld device based on an embedded Intel architecture. The BlackBerry Handheld is optimised for mobile email use and incorporates a 32bit Intel 386 processor, 2Mbyte of Intel flash memory, integrated wireless modem, full keyboard, triple DES encryption technology and email/organiser software. It is designed to be wearable, operate 24 hours per day and run on a single AA alkaline battery'.

It was a product launch that would change many people's lives. No self respecting executive – or wannabee – could be seen without a BlackBerry. The result was the emergence of so called Crackberries – executives addicted to reading their e-mails, no matter where and when. Times change, of course. RIM, now BlackBerry, has gone from hero to zero and is clawing its way back, but slowly.