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New Patient Monitoring System Wirelessly Sends
Medical Information with Blackberry 6510™ from
Nextel
Application Wins Enterprise Java™ Developer
Contest
RESTON, Va
and Waterloo, Ontario (December 17, 2003) – Nextel Communications Inc.
(NASDAQ:NXTL) and Research in Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX:
RIM) today named the mPOD™ by MedicTouch™ the winner of their
BlackBerry 6510™ Extensibility Challenge (http://developer.Nextel.com),
an enterprise Java™ 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME™ Platform)
Developer Contest.
The contest was open to independent software vendors
and developers who build and support applications that
leverage the Mobile Data Service (MDS) feature of the
BlackBerry Enterprise Server™ (BES) and run on Nextel’s
nationwide voice and data iDen network.
The
business tools created for this contest exemplify the
ingenuity of the Java developer community and the
unquestionable capability of the BlackBerry 6510 from Nextel
to facilitate wireless solutions that are second to none when
it comes to quality and effectiveness,” said Ernie Cormier,
vice president, Enterprise Solutions for Nextel. “With more than 21,000
registered developers licensed to build wireless solutions for
the vertical business sectors, Nextel has demonstrated
unprecedented commitment to delivering the most advanced J2ME
applications available anywhere."
MedicTouch (North Miami Beach, Florida) took
first place for its Mobile Pulse Oximeter Device (mP OD)
that provides remote blood oxygen content and pulse readings
on the BlackBerry 6510.
Factors such as an aging population and an increased
incidence of heart disease are thrusting remote monitoring
services such as mPOD to the forefront of a healthcare market
that is focused on reducing costs and providing better care
without significantly impacting the daily routines of
physicians or patients.
“At MedicTouch, our priority is to develop high
quality wireless wearable health monitoring products to meet
the demands of an always changing, cutting-edge healthcare
vertical. The
BlackBerry Enterprise Software and the handheld device from
Nextel presented the perfect platform for our business user
demands,” said Dr. Eran Schenker, MedicTouch founder and
medical director.
“Our mPOD technology and Nextel’s digital cellular PDA
with the Direct ConnectSM
walkie-talkie feature is the all-in-one device that is leading
the charge in an increasingly mobile healthcare
industry”
Java technology enables developers to write
advanced applications for the BlackBerry 6510 from Nextel that
take advantage of the rich user interface, persistent memory,
and ability to run select J2ME applications. Plus, Java allows
companies to easily customize the applications they want for
BlackBerry handhelds.
Java technology adds another desirable feature to
Nextel’s handsets that include Nationwide Direct
ConnectSM
the coast-to-coast walkie-talkie feature, digital
cellular, two-way text messaging and Nextel Online® wireless
data.
The BlackBerry Extensibility Challenge required
developers to create programs that serve enterprise customers
for key vertical segments including: transportation &
logistics; financial & insurance; manufacturing &
distribution; government/public sector and higher education;
and utilities. By
building applications with productivity and practical business
uses in mind, developers highlighted the versatility of the
BlackBerry 6510 from Nextel and demonstrated Nextel’s leading
wireless business solution platform in these industries.
Applications were judged on five equally
weighted criteria: use of the MDS feature of the BES for
corporate data access; relevance of the application to the
different priority business segments; capability of the
contestant to deploy, support and market the application;
contestants business model including Return on Investment
estimates; and overall application quality.
The three finalists were awarded a
prize package including two BlackBerry 6510 handsets with a
year of service and free membership into the BlackBerry ISV
Alliance Program.
As grand prize winner, MedicTouch was also awarded a
BlackBerry Enterprise Server with twenty user licenses and
sales and marketing support, including launching the mPod application as a
Nextel Application Partner product.
About
Nextel’s Developer Program
The Nextel Developer Program facilitates the
development of Java, WAP and SMS applications for the vertical
Nextel platform.
More that 20,000 developers have registered to develop
wireless applications for vertical, horizontal and corporate
markets.
Developers who register in the free program gain access
to training, technical documentation, developer tools and
online support.
The program offers significant joint sales and
marketing opportunities for developers with applications that
fit Nextel’s strategic direction. Developers interested
in participating in the Nextel Developer Program should visit
http://developer.nextel.com.
About
Nextel Communications
Nextel Communications, a FORTUNE 300 company
based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of fully
integrated wireless communications services and has built the
largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country
covering thousands of communities across the United States.
Today
95 percent of FORTUNE 500Ò companies are Nextel
customers.
Nextel
and Nextel Partners, Inc. currently serve 293 of the top 300
U.S. markets where approximately 248 million people live or
work.
About Research In Motion (RIM)
Research
In Motion Limited 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. RIM's portfolio of award-winning products,
services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of
organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry™
wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld™ 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 MEDICTOUCH
MedicTouch LTD.,
Tel-Aviv ISRAEL (www.medictouch.net) is a Medical Device
company that designs develops and markets mobile medical
devices for medical professionals and patients. MedicTouch
products are a spin-off of space technology designed to
improve patient care, quality of life and cost. MedicTouch
personnel are known for their expertise in space medicine,
cellular communication software, International business and
mobile applications.
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