IT&E launches BlackBerry solution in the CNMI

IT&E, the wireless telecommunications leader in the Marianas, announces today the launch of the BlackBerry wireless solution in the CNMI with the availability of the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition and BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphones from Research In Motion.

The BlackBerry solution on IT&E’s EVDO high-speed mobile broadband network provides customers with fast and easy wireless access to e-mail, phone, calendar, web and multimedia applications, as well as thousands of other mobile business and lifestyle applications. IT&E customers can now enjoy the freedom of using BlackBerry smartphones to stay connected while living their “Life in Motion.”

“We are thrilled to be introducing the BlackBerry solution to customers in the CNMI,” said Larry Knecht, Executive vice president of IT&E. “Coupled with IT&E’s EVDO high speed data network, BlackBerry smartphones will keep our customers connected while on the go. IT&E is the first and only high speed wireless data solution in the CNMI offering increased productivity and flexibility that our customers have asked us to provide.”

The BlackBerry 8830 World Edition smartphone from IT&E features:

-Voice and SMS roaming in over 210 countries using IT&E’s Global Roaming solution

-Advanced media player, great for listening to music, watching videos and viewing pictures, plus a stereo headset jack

-An intuitive user interface and trackball that makes navigation instinctive and fast

-Robust call management features such as smart dialing, speed dialing and call forwarding

-Enhanced HTML browser for visiting web sites while on the go

-BlackBerry® Internet Service support, allowing access to up to 10 supported personal and corporate email accounts, including most popular ISP email accounts

-BlackBerry® Enterprise Server support providing tight integration with IBM Lotus® Domino®, Microsoft® Exchange and Novell GroupWise® and featuring strong security and IT policy controls for managing smartphone features and usage

-Support for polyphonic, MP3 and MIDI ring tones

-Other voice features including noise cancellation for enhanced audio performance, speaker independent voice recognition for voice activated dialing, dedicated ‘send’, ‘end’, and ‘mute’ keys, low-distortion speakerphone, and Bluetooth® support

In addition, IT&E is offering the BlackBerry Curve 8330 smartphone, which features a highly tactile full QWERTY keyboard, a 2 MP camera that supports video recording*, a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack, and high-speed USB support for transferring large files quickly and conveniently between a computer and the smartphone. A microSD/SDHC memory card slot and advanced media player enable customers to carry and enjoy their music, videos and photos wherever they are.

Through March 30, customers may choose either BlackBerry smartphone for the introductory price of $249 and get three months of BlackBerry data service for only $19.95 per month—50 percent off regular price (a savings of $60). BlackBerry smartphones are available at the main Chalan Lau Lau Middle Road store or at the IT&E Wireless Express Center in Garapan as well as the IT&E offices on Tinian and Rota. Call 682-4ITE for more information.

With over 75,000 total subscribers on Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Guam, the PTI Group of Companies of which IT&E is a part is the largest telecommunications company in the Marianas. It was purchased from Verizon by Prospector Holdings Inc. of the Philippine-based Delgado family in September of 2005. In 2006, Sumitomo Corporation became a long term strategic partner.