Are you reading this on your BlackBerry? You may not for long. Since NTP won its patent infringement lawsuit against Research In Motion (RIM), the creator of BlackBerry’s technology, RIM has been involved in an extensive legal battle to continue its operations. After NTP won, an injunction was issued in 2003 but was then stayed while the case was on appeal. An appeals court later upheld the infringement ruling. On Monday, the Supreme Court declared it would not hear the case, leaving RIM to settle or close for good in the U.S.

Faced with a crowd of nervous BlackBerry users, IT employees around the country are busily coming up with contingency plans should RIM be forced to end its service. Microsoft Corp. is also in the process of testing its new “push” e-mail offering as a replacement. Other companies are busy creating or improving techologies to prepare for the potential mobile computing vacancy. Replacing BlackBerry service and handheld devices could cost up to $845 per person, according to J. Gold Associates in Northboro, MA.