Fans of the popular wireless communications device BlackBerry breathed a sigh of relief when Research in Motion (RIM), the company that makes it, settled a lawsuit removing fears that the e-mail service might be shut down by a court injunction. But for RIM, which recently announced it had hit the five-million subscriber mark, the real challenge all along may have been outside of the court room. Up until now, RIM pretty much has had the business for itself, with Blackberry capturing an estimated 70 percent of the U.S. market for wireless e-mail. But there is growing evidence that this landscape is changing.

Microsoft, for example, already has won contracts to supply software for the Palm Treo and the Motorola Q handhelds. Motorola’s Q leverages Microsoft’s familiar Windows Mobile software and is among the first devices to run on the new Windows Mobile 5.0 platform, which includes Microsoft Office Mobile and delivers direct integration with Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 for e-mail services as well as support for 3G wireless and Wi-Fi. 

The Motorola Q will bring a combined phone and e-mail experience to mobile professionals in a stylish form factor. It has electro-luminescent keys, a full Qwerty keyboard and thumbwheel for single-handed control. It also features a 2.4-inch color screen, voice-activated dialing, a 1.3-megapixel camera, MP3 and video capabilities, stereo speakers and Web surfing capability so users can listen to their favorite song while checking e-mail or visit the Web for the latest news.

When you’re king of the road in a particular market, you have to defend it. RIM has indicated that it will be looking for more sales to general users. To do so, it is counting on familiar names in the mobile phone business. BlackBerry Connect is an effort by RIM to bring its e-mail software to other manufacturers' phones. The first fruit of this effort is the Nokia 9300 smart phone, which allows e-mail and appointments to be sent wirelessly. It combines the functionality of a PDA, phone and mobile e-mail device in a sleek package that opens to reveal a full messaging keyboard.