NTP

QUICKLINKS: Latest FCC spectrum auction may get ugly; Google adds GPS support to mobile maps; Much more...

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 19:01:35 -0500

Latest FCC spectrum auction may get ugly. FierceWireless

Finally: Google adds GPS support to mobile mapping app. Blog

NTP continues the push email crusade. Analysis

Google CEO wants free phones (read: ad-supported phones). FierceMobileContent

Qualcomm and Motorola collaborate on UMTS handsets. Release

Mobile Marketing Association releases new ad guidelines. Release

Cataloging wireless vulnerabilities. FierceWireless

Who owns your LBS data? Blog

QUICKLINKS: Mobile web business plan competition; Opera Mini 3.0 beta review ; Much more...

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 19:01:35 -0500

Mobile web business plan competition. Blog

Here we go again: NTP sues Palm for patent infringement. Article

Review: Opera Mini 3.0 beta. Blog

Enpocket scores $2 million in funding. Blog

Ads in ringtones?! What'll they think of next? Blog

Report: Mobile blogging more hype than substance. FierceMobileContent

Windows Communication Foundation (Compact Edition) and the story of the Lunch Launcher. Blog

Report: Twice as many music phones as MP3 players. FierceMobileContent

RIM settles with NTP for $612.5M

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 19:01:38 -0500

It's finally over! RIM has settled the patent suit with NTP for $612.5 million. A key provision of the deal is that it cannot be reversed even if NTP's patents are declared invalid. RIM's stock surged on news of the settlement, but RIM CEO Jim Balsillie said it is "not a good feeling to write this kind of check." Analysts say RIM let the case drag on too long, aiding rivals like Microsoft and Good. Article

RIM lives to fight another day

Mon, 27 Feb 2006 19:01:37 -0500

Judge James Spencer declined to rule on an injunction shutting down RIM's BlackBerry network. No big surprise; NTP's patents, which are the basis of the lawsuit, are being rejected one-by-one by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. RIM is asking for a new trial, while NTP believes the case is already settled and simply wants to move on to assessing damages against the BlackBerry maker. Meanwhile, Judge Spencer again pleaded with both sides to reach a settlement on their own. Article

Understanding the BlackBerry workaround

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 19:01:38 -0500

Research In Motion (RIM) has finally released some technical details about its backup email delivery system. The key difference appears to be that email will be queued for delivery on corporate servers and at network operators, rather than centralized at a RIM NOC. New BlackBerrys will be automatically compatible with the new system. If the court orders that existing BlackBerry devices infringe on NTP's patents, all users may be forced to download a firmware update. Article

RIM's fate uncertain as USPTO prepares to reject NTP patents

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 19:01:38 -0500

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a decision rejecting the fifth and final patent at the heart of NTP's infringement case against BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM). Unfortunately for RIM, the ruling is "non-final" until at least next month. U.S. District Court Judge James Spencer is expected to make a final ruling at a hearing on February 24 and he has previously stated that he will not delay the case to wait for a final ruling from the USPTO. Legal experts say the USPTO's latest decision does make a BlackBerry ban less likely, but the final outcome of this landmark patent case is still anyone's guess. Article

BlackBerry network's fate may hinge on Feb. 24 hearing

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 19:01:37 -0500

Research In Motion is headed back to U.S. District Court on February 24 for a hearing that could decide the fate of its BlackBerry email network. NTP has already won its case against RIM for infringing NTP's network data patents. The question now is whether District Court Judge James Spencer will impose an injunction shutting down RIM's network. If that were to occur, RIM executives insist that they are ready to switch to a backup email delivery system. Blog

RIM will settle with NTP; BlackBerry's days are numbered

Mon, 02 Jan 2006 19:01:38 -0500

I have no inside knowledge of the NTP vs. RIM case, but that won't stop me from making a bold prediction about its outcome: RIM will settle the case with NTP for a large but non-fatal payment and possibly a small slice of future earnings. Both companies simply have too much to lose from an unfavorable court decision and the U.S. patent office keeps invalidating NTP's patents. On the other hand, the BlackBerry itself will become less relevant in the coming months as competitors like Good offer similar push email functionality at a cheaper price. Expect nearly every new phone to come with a push email component by the end of 2006.

RIM loses settlement, NTP almost loses patent

Mon, 05 Dec 2005 19:01:37 -0500

A preliminary ruling from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) invalidates the last of the NTP-owned patents that are at the center of a lawsuit with BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion (RIM). This is good news for RIM, which just last week suffered the latest in a string of legal defeats when a US district judge rejected the company's $450 million settlement offer with NTP. The USPTO's preliminary ruling has no legal weight until it is finalized, but perhaps NTP will be more open to a settlement now that it faces the prospect of losing the entire basis for its lawsuit. Article

RIM preps backup BlackBerry service as ruling nears

Mon, 21 Nov 2005 19:01:37 -0500

A ruling is expected very soon in the RIM-NTP patent dispute, as the judge has said he is unwilling to wait for the patent office to complete its review of NTP's patents. A ruling in NTP's favor could force RIM to pay huge damages and shut down BlackBerry service in the US. RIM claims to already have a backup email delivery system in place that does not require licenses to NTP's patents. For those of you having a hard time keeping up with the case, here's a timeline of key events. Article