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07 Feb 2006

Hong Kong 3G provider offers an enhanced mobile communications solution by blending the two popular communications platforms of Yahoo! and BlackBerry.

3 Hong Kong and Research In Motion (RIM) today announced the availability of Yahoo! Messenger® on BlackBerry® for 3 Hong Kong BlackBerry® customers. Leveraging BlackBerry's unique "push" technology, customers of 3 Hong Kong will be offered the Yahoo! Messenger service on the BlackBerry platform, providing users with an additional option for remaining connected to friends and colleagues.

"3 Hong Kong has a successful history in providing BlackBerry services in Hong Kong. We were the first operator to bring BlackBerry to Asia in 2002. Today, we are excited to be the first to extend the Yahoo! Messenger experience to our BlackBerry customers with this enhanced communications solution," said Amy Lung, Commercial Director ? Consumer Market, 3 Hong Kong. "By offering Yahoo! Messenger services on BlackBerry devices, 3 Hong Kong customers will be able to enjoy a truly integrated communications experience on the BlackBerry platform."

Yahoo! Messenger designed specifically for BlackBerry will allow 3 Hong Kong customers to access and manage their existing Yahoo! contact lists on their BlackBerry anytime and view which of their friends or colleagues are currently online and available. They will be able to send and receive instant messages and emoticons, engage in multiple conversations simultaneously and take part in online conferences all in a familiar Yahoo! Messenger user interface. Users will even be notified on their handhelds when contacts are typing them a message, thereby adding to the value of this powerful new communications tool.

Yahoo! Messenger is completely integrated into the BlackBerry experience, allowing users to set custom vibration and ring tone indicators and home screen notifications of new messages and easily switch between conversations and the BlackBerry calendar view to confirm appointments and schedules with contacts.

"BlackBerry is a powerful and popular platform in Hong Kong, enabling users to stay connected to people and information while on the go," said Norm Lo, Vice President, Asia Pacific at Research In Motion. "With push-based connectivity, easy-to-use keyboards, large screens and optimised wireless performance, BlackBerry handsets are the best choice for wireless messaging. We're pleased to be working with Yahoo! and 3 Hong Kong to deliver Yahoo! Messenger to Asia's BlackBerry subscribers."

Yahoo! Messenger is now available to 3 Hong Kong BlackBerry users, free of charge and may be installed from www.blackberry.com/YahooDownload. Use of Yahoo! Messenger requires a Yahoo! ID. For more information on Yahoo! Messenger and on how to obtain a Yahoo! ID, users are invited to visit http://hk.messenger.yahoo.com. Use of Yahoo! Messenger on BlackBerry devices may result in additional GPRS consumption charges. Additional information can also be found at www.three.com.hk