Research In Motion Ltd. has picked the telecommunications hub of suburban Dallas as the site of its U.S. headquarters, with a plan to employ more than 1,000 people in the city of Irving within the next several years.
Company executives and government officials made the announcement at a press conference in Irving on Monday.
Jim Balsillie, co-chief executive officer of the Waterloo, Ont.-based BlackBerry maker, said the city of 200,000 — about 20 kilometres west of Dallas — was chosen because of its talented workforce and strong infrastructure.
RIM is looking to expand its operations and pursue sales and service opportunities around the world, he said.
The company will occupy more than 100,000 square feet in Riverside Commons, a recently renovated six-building office complex on 13 acres along State Highway 114.
Irving is also home to oil giant ExxonMobil Corp. and jewelry retailer Zale Corp. The Dallas area is also a telecommunications hotbed, with many of the largest U.S. wireless companies — including AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. — having research facilities in Richardson, a suburb just north of the main city.
Richardson is also home to a large U.S. operation from Toronto-based Nortel Networks Corp. The company's Richardson operation employs 4,200 people and conducts most of its wireless work.
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