BlackBerry patent fight spooks some customers

Iria · Dec 13, 2005, 03:04 PM

SAN FRANCISCO — A patent lawsuit against the maker of the BlackBerry is starting to scare some customers away from the popular e-mail device.

• Land Equity Partners, a Park City, Utah, development firm, recently considered buying BlackBerrys for five partners. Then the company heard about the patent dispute between BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion and NTP, a tiny intellectual property firm. Faced with that uncertainty, Land Equity purchased $650 Treo e-mail devices from Palm instead. "I didn't need the headache," partner Tyler Aldous says.

• Founder Geoff Ables is evaluating e-mail devices for his staff at Customer Connect, a Davidson, N.C., tech consulting firm. But the BlackBerry is not on the list. Ables is also encouraging clients to steer clear. An alternate technology "is a much safer way to go," he says.

• Giant tech consultant Gartner is offering its clients similar advice. Last week, it sent a letter urging businesses to "stop or delay all mission-critical BlackBerry deployments and investments" until RIM's legal position is clarified.

RIM's patent fight has been going on for years, but NTP has won several key victories in recent weeks. That's pushing the legal wrangling into the spotlight — and has heightened the possibility that a court will force RIM to stop offering service in the USA until the case is settled.
____________
Read More / Source: USA Today

Dec 13, 2005, 03:04 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	BlackBerry patent fight spooks some customers SAN FRANCISCO — A patent lawsuit against the maker of the BlackBerry is starting to scare some customers away from the popular e-mail device. • Land Equity Partners, a Park City, Utah, development firm, recently considered buying BlackBerrys for five partners. Then the company heard about the patent dispute between BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion and NTP, a tiny intellectual property firm. Faced with that uncertainty, Land Equity purchased $650 Treo e-mail devices from Palm instead. "I didn't need the headache," partner Tyler Aldous says. • Founder Geoff Ables is evaluating e-mail devices for his staff at Customer Connect, a Davidson, N.C., tech consulting firm. But the BlackBerry is not on the list. Ables is also encouraging clients to steer clear. An alternate technology "is a much safer way to go," he says. • Giant tech consultant Gartner is offering its clients similar advice. Last week, it sent a letter urging businesses to "stop or delay all mission-critical BlackBerry deployments and investments" until RIM's legal position is clarified. RIM's patent fight has been going on for years, but NTP has won several key victories in recent weeks. That's pushing the legal wrangling into the spotlight — and has heightened the possibility that a court will force RIM to stop offering service in the USA until the case is settled. ____________ Read More / Source: USA Today