STC and the Canadian Research in Motion Company (RIM) signed a strategic partnership that aims at providing a wide range of content, applications and smart solutions for Blackberry users in the Kingdom. The agreement, which was signed by Ibrahim Al Omar from STC and Sandeep Saihgal Managing Director Middle East of RIM, focuses on exchanging expertise between the two companies in a manner that serves mutual interests and enables customers to enjoy up to date services and technologies. The unveiling of this partnership was at an event that took place in the Prince Sultan Hall, Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh, in the presence of the press, VIPs and key executives from both companies.

As a result of this new partnership, STC announced the launch of BlackBerry® bold™ 9900 device with its exceptional design, touch screen and the Blackberry 7 system, thus demonstrating the elegance and practicality in one device.

On this occasion, Eng. Ibrahim Al Omar, Vice President of the Retail Sector at STC, stated: "the strategic partnership between STC and RIM is based on launching the level of coordination between the two companies in order to serve their common interest and to fulfill customer's need for technologies and unique services. STC interest in this partnership confirms its leading role in launching and providing current and new smart devices to its customers, which is based on STC's strategy that revolves around the customer. STC was the first to bring the blackberry services into the Kingdom giving it a leading market position there, and resulted in doubling the number of customers in the BlackBerry service, which prompted us to meet their expectations by providing services and products that suit various tastes."

Sandeep Saihgal Managing Director of RIM - Middle East said "We are pleased with our partnership with STC and the opportunity to introduce our new collection of Blackberry smart devices to our customers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." He added, "According to GFK report, the Blackberry® Curve™ 8520 is the bestseller in period between July 2010 and July 2011. A report issued by CANALYS Company about the smart devices' shipments in the second quarter 2011 proved that the Blackberry device is the bestseller in the market. In addition to that the Blackberry community in the Kingdom registered one of the highest levels of using the BBM™ application in the world (99%).

STC is the leader and pioneer in introducing and providing generous offers on smart devices, and at the same time keeping in pace with fast technological developments allowing customers to enjoy the benefits of its strategic partnerships in terms of outstanding products, services, and solutions.