SouthernLINC Wireless - Press Releases

SouthernLINC Wireless Announces Availability of the BlackBerry 7100i From Research In Motion

ATLANTA – November 15, 2006 – SouthernLINC Wireless®, a Southern Company (NYSE: SO) today announced availability of the BlackBerry® wireless solution with the BlackBerry® 7100i handset from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM).

“The addition of BlackBerry significantly rounds out our product portfolio,” said Bob Dawson, president and CEO of SouthernLINC Wireless. “The BlackBerry wireless solution has more than six million subscribers to date, validating it as a proven solution for the mobile workforce. The BlackBerry 7100i will enable our business and public safety customers to work smarter, not harder. This handset is also a great choice for consumers to stay connected while they are on-the-go.”

The sleek and stylish BlackBerry 7100i allows easy wireless connectivity with support for ‘push-based’ e-mail, Push to Talktext messaging, organizer, Web browsing, and corporate data applications in a stylish, phone-like, form factor. SouthernLINC Wireless will offer the handset together with the BlackBerry® Enterprise Server and BlackBerry® Internet Service.

The BlackBerry 7100i features include:

• Push to Talk – users benefit from the immediacy of SouthernLINC Wireless’s Push to Talk, long-range digital “walkie talkie” service
• Push-Based E-mail – messages received in a customer’s e-mail inbox are pushed automatically to the BlackBerry handset
• Attachment Viewing – users can easily view attachments with support for popular file formats including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint attachments
• Instant Messaging – users can keep in contact with the Instant Messaging community of contacts when connected to the wireless network
• Bluetooth® – with support for wireless headsets and car kits, users can communicate hands-free
• SureTypeTM Keyboard Technology – effectively combines a traditional phone keypad and familiar QWERTY keyboard, enabling users to easily and accurately type messages and dial phone numbers
• Color Display – large, bright, high resolution color LCD screen optimized for both indoor and outdoor use

“BlackBerry continues to provide mobile professionals with the best converged mobile solution for voice and data applications,” said Mark Guibert, vice president corporate marketing at Research In Motion. “We are pleased to be working together to bring BlackBerry to SouthernLINC Wireless’s customers.”

For corporate customers, BlackBerry® Enterprise Server software tightly integrates with Microsoft® Exchange, IBM Lotus® Domino® and Novell® GroupWise® and works with existing enterprise systems to enable secure, push-based wireless access to e-mail and other corporate data.

For individuals and smaller businesses, BlackBerry® Internet Service allows users to access up to ten corporate and personal e-mail accounts (including most ISP e-mail accounts) without the need for server software from a single device.

The BlackBerry 7100i is now available at SouthernLINC Wireless retail stores, authorized SouthernLINC Wireless dealers or online at www.southernlinc.com.

About SouthernLINC Wireless
SouthernLINC Wireless, a Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is an Atlanta-based regional wireless carrier covering the major metro and rural areas in Alabama, Georgia, southeastern Mississippi and northwest Florida. SouthernLINC Wireless bundles multiple communication options into one phone including push to talk, cellular service, text messaging, wireless Internet access and wireless data. More information about SouthernLINC Wireless can be obtained by calling 1-800-818-LINC (5462) or visiting the SouthernLINC Wireless Web site at www.southernlinc.com.

About Southern Company
With 4.3 million customers and more than 41,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast, one of America’s fastest-growing regions. A leading U.S. producer of electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are significantly below the national average. Southern Company has received the highest ranking in customer satisfaction among U.S. electric service providers for seven consecutive years by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Visit our Web site at www.southerncompany.com.

About Research In Motion (RIM)
Research In Motion is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including e-mail, phone, SMS messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party developers and manufacturers to enhance their products and services with wireless connectivity to data. RIM's portfolio of award-winning products, services and embedded technologies are used by thousands of organizations around the world and include the BlackBerry® wireless platform, the RIM Wireless Handheld™ product line, software development tools, radio-modems and software/hardware licensing agreements. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM operates offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RIM). For more information, please visit www.rim.com or www.blackberry.com.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. SouthernLINC Wireless and other members of the “LINC” family of marks are the exclusive properties, service marks and trademarks of Southern Communications Services, Inc. d/b/a SouthernLINC Wireless. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners.