RIM, RBC and Thomson Reuters to Anchor a US$150 Million BlackBerry Partners Fund Focused on Investing in Mobile Applications and Services

TORONTO, May 12 /PRNewswire/ --     


    - New fund to mark "mobile" as the new frontier



    Research In Motion (RIM) (TSX: RIM; Nasdaq: RIMM), RBC (RY: TSX; 
RY: NYSE) and Thomson Reuters (NYSE: TRI; TSX: TRI; LSE: TRIL; Nasdaq: TRIN),
today announced plans to launch the BlackBerry(R) Partners Fund, a 
US$150 million venture capital fund, to invest in mobile applications and 
services for the BlackBerry(R) platform and other mobile platforms. The Fund 
is to be co-managed by JLA Ventures and RBC Venture Partners.



    Agnostic to both stage and balance sheet, the BlackBerry Partners Fund
will not restrict the development of mobile applications and services to
any single mobile platform or any specific industry segment. The Fund will be
designed to advance the industry by fostering development and driving the
entrepreneurial spirit to create the most innovative mobile offerings for
customers.



    "The mobile world has evolved well beyond phone calls and simple
messaging to require more empowering and liberating solutions that
connect people to everything that matters most to them, wherever and whenever
they want," said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO, Research In Motion. "RIM, RBC and
Thomson Reuters share the common belief that mobile applications and services
will propel the industry forward and the BlackBerry Partners Fund is being
formed to help fuel innovation and activity in the mobile ecosystem."



    "Thomson Reuters is committed to supporting the development of next
generation mobile applications that will provide our professional and
business customers with anywhere, anytime capabilities," said Devin Wenig, 
Chief Executive Officer, Markets Division of Thomson Reuters. "The ability to
make business critical decisions with intelligent information available on
mobile devices will give our customers a clear competitive advantage."



    "The BlackBerry Partners Fund will focus on evaluating companies in all
regions of the world and investing in the long term success of those that
demonstrate market leadership and unique differentiation," said John
Albright, Managing Partner of JLA Ventures, who will also assume the role of
Co-Managing Partner of the BlackBerry Partners Fund. "Whether it's access to
corporate data or the latest craze in mobile entertainment, we want to fund
companies that are forerunners in driving adoption and further enriching the 
mobile experience."



    "The BlackBerry Partners Fund will be a catalyst for the development of
next generation mobile applications and services," said Kevin Talbot, RBC
Vice President and Managing Director of RBC Venture Partners, who will also
assume the role of Co-Managing Partner of the BlackBerry Partners Fund. "The
BlackBerry Partners Fund will focus exclusively on mobile applications
and services and our close alliance with RIM will bring unparalleled access
and value to our portfolio companies."



    About BlackBerry Partners Fund


    The BlackBerry Partners Fund is a US$150 million venture capital fund
being formed to focus on applications and services for the BlackBerry 
platform and other mobile platforms including mobile commerce (payments, 
advertising, retailing and banking), vertical and horizontal enterprise 
applications, communications, social networking, location-based applications 
and services (navigation and mapping), media and entertainment, and lifestyle 
and personal productivity applications. The Fund will consider all stages of
development and is to be co-managed by JLA Ventures and RBC Venture Partners. 
To sign up to receive further information visit: 
www.blackberrypartnersfund.com.



    About 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(R) wireless platform, the RIM Wireless 
Handheld(TM) 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.



    About Thomson Reuters


    Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information
for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with
innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision
makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, scientific,
healthcare and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news 
organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London 
and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs more than 50,000 people in 
93 countries. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the New York Stock 
Exchange (NYSE: TRI); Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: TRI); London Stock 
Exchange (LSE: TRIL); and Nasdaq (Nasdaq: TRIN). For more information, go to 
www.thomsonreuters.com.



    About RBC


    Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries operate
under the master brand name of RBC. We are Canada's largest bank as
measured by assets and market capitalization and one of North America's 
leading diversified financial services companies. We provide personal and
commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance, corporate and 
investment banking, and transaction processing services on a global basis. We 
employ approximately 70,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than
15 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients
through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 36 other countries. For more 
information, please visit rbc.com.



    This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian
securities laws relating to plans and expectations for the BlackBerry
Partners Fund. The terms and phrases, "plans to launch", "is to be 
co-managed", "will", "to be focused", and similar terms and phrases are 
intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking 
statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by the parties to this 
news release in light of their experience and perception of historical 
trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other 
factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could 
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Fund, to differ 
materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, 
including, without limitation, the following: the launch of the Fund will be 
subject to, among other things, the approval of the final structure and terms 
of the Fund by RIM, RBC, Thomson Reuters and the managers of the Fund, the 
preparation of definitive documentation relating to the Fund, compliance with 
applicable regulatory requirements and other customary closing conditions; 
risks relating to the Fund's ability to identify suitable investment 
opportunities; risks relating to investment in early-stage and speculative 
technologies and companies, the success of which may be uncertain; and other 
risks relating to the mobile communications industry, many of which are 
discussed in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of RIM's Annual 
Information Form, which is included in its Annual Report on Form 40-F (copies 
of which filings may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov). These 
factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue 
reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. 
The parties to this news release have no intention and undertake no 
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a 
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by 
law.



    The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are
the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.
RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries. RIM
assumes no obligations or liability and makes no representation, warranty,
endorsement or guarantee in relation to any aspect of any third party
products or services. Trademarks used in this press release include Royal 
Bank of Canada, RBC, and RBC Venture Partners which are trademarks of Royal 
Bank of Canada and/or its subsidiaries under license.



RIM, RBC and Thomson Reuters