WATERLOO, Ontario, Canada—The adage, “keep your friends close, but your enemies even closer,” seems to fit the new business relationship Research In Motion (RIM) and Glenayre Electronics announced this week.
The two companies said they are dropping their patent lawsuits against each other and will instead work together to integrate Glenayre’s unified messaging services with RIM’s BlackBerry wireless e-mail device.
“Our development effort with Glenayre is designed to expand our carrier partners’ service offering and deliver another compelling mobile application for BlackBerry users,” said Mike Lazardis, RIM’s president and co-chief executive officer.
The two companies have been battling over various patent issues, including battery sources and unified messaging products, for several years. They announced RIM’s Single Mailbox Integration patent is valid, and Glenayre’s battery source suit has been “resolved.”
