RIM issues software to overcome Blackberry patent dispute

Research In Motion has announced a new product called Blackberry Multi-Mode edition, designed to overcome the patents it is currently disputing in the US.

The software will be pre-loaded on to BlackBerry handsets and is being incorporated into BlackBerry Enterprise Server software before shipping.

The software is going through the network certification process required for all updates, RIM said.

While RIM continues to fight the patent dispute with NTP, which affects three million users in the US, Microsoft is extending its intellectual property support on its rival mobile platform.

Microsoft has pushed back its intellectual property (IP) protection programme for companies that develop hardware and software powered by Microsoft Windows Embedded and Windows Mobile software.

The extended cover means Microsoft will defend manufacturers and distributors against IP claims in every country in which Microsoft distributes or markets its Windows Mobile and Windows Embedded products.

It will also offer protection of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret claims based on Windows Mobile and Windows Embedded software.