BlackBerry getting squeezed?

Device maker Research In Motion heads to federal court to stand its ground in a case that could lead to a service shutdown. Here's everything you need to know.

BlackBerry saved

Research in Motion will pay $612 million to use the technology at the core of the popular devices.
March 3, 2006

Welcome to litigation land, 2006

perspective There's no joy in tech-dom after the RIM-NTP settlement, says CNET News.com's Charlie Cooper.
March 3, 2006

Reporter roundtable: The RIM settlement examined

audio Join News.com reporters and editors as they discuss the implications of the long-running patent dispute case.
March 3, 2006

BlackBerry case: No shutoff, for now

Judge James Spencer scolds patent holder NTP and device maker Research In Motion for not coming to a settlement.
February 24, 2006

Judge faces 'reality' in BlackBerry case

Transcript of Judge Spencer's closing remarks appears to show resignation, annoyance with endless dispute.
February 24, 2006

A view from the BlackBerry courtroom

reporter's notebook A seemingly exasperated federal judge made the men in black suits chuckle during Friday's RIM court hearing.
February 24, 2006

Second final rejection issued for NTP patent

As pivotal hearing winds down, the second of five NTP patents gets a thumbs-down from the Patent Office.
February 24, 2006

Bye-bye, BlackBerry?

A federal court hearing scheduled for Friday is inspiring fevered thumb-typists to ponder life without mobile e-mail.
February 23, 2006

RIM chief: Chances of NTP deal appear slim

Research In Motion would settle the legal drama over the BlackBerry, but not at the terms NTP is offering, CEO says.
February 23, 2006

NTP slams RIM on eve of crucial hearing

BlackBerry maker calls patent-holding company's lambasting statement a "shameless diversionary tactic."
February 23, 2006

Patent office issues final rejection of NTP patent

Rejection is for an NTP-held patent that covers a system for sending e-mails over a wireless network to a mobile device.
February 22, 2006

Legal tangles don't sour BlackBerry customers

BlackBerry shipments increased by 46 percent to vault RIM to the top spot among PDA vendors in 2005, says Gartner.
February 14, 2006

RIM's BlackBerry work-around

Research In Motion details how its new software work-around will be distributed to customers.
February 9, 2006

FAQ: Will BlackBerrys be shut down?

A confusing legal saga is nearing a conclusion in a Virginia courtroom, but plenty of questions remain about how this case evolved, and what remains to be decided.
February 2, 2006

U.S. Supreme Court rejects RIM's appeal

U.S. shutdown of BlackBerry service appears imminent as appeal in a patent infringement case from RIM is rejected.
January 23, 2006

Jury: RIM infringed on patents

A federal jury determines that Research In Motion infringed on patents and orders it to pay $23 million to holding company NTP.
November 21, 2002

Pick a BlackBerry

Despite all the legal woes, RIM's BlackBerrys aren't seeing black yet. With promises of a software workaround that will allow the continuation of service, here is the latest lineup of BlackBerry devices for all the major carriers.

BlackBerry alternatives

Then again, if all of this makes you nervous, here are six smart phone alternatives that can step in for your BlackBerry. As with any emergency, it's always good to be prepared.

More reviews coverage:

RIM BlackBerry 7100 series
All BlackBerry reviews
See CNET editors' top smart phones
Read the latest smart-phone reviews

Why the BlackBerry dispute may keep going and going

Attorney Eric Sinrod says RIM's workaround could spawn entirely new patent issues to fight about with NTP
February 15, 2006

I want my BlackBerry

Sinrod hopes the courts won't take away his prized PDA. But if it happens, he--and millions others like him--have another option.
December 7, 2005

Fighting the Good fight

Good Technology CEO Danny Shader says a shift in handheld tastes should spell an end to the end of the BlackBerry era.
July 18, 2005

Why RIM won't blink

Hanging tough under pressure, RIM CEO Jim Balsillie blames NTP for not reaching a solution to their patent dispute.
June 23, 2005

Sending a message to RIM

NTP co-founder Donald Stout says the company expects Research In Motion to pay up--one way or another--to settle their long-running patent dispute.
June 24, 2005

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Are you a BlackBerry user? What do you expect to happen?