The Research In Motion Ltd. BlackBerry Tour 9630 is displayed for a photograph in an undated company handout photograph released to the media on Tuesday, June 16, 2009. The Tour 9630, which uses so-called 3G technology, will be sold in the U.S. through Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel Corp., RIM co-Chief Executive Officer Jim Balsillie said in a phone interview yesterday. Source: Research In Motion Ltd. via Bloomberg News EDITOR'S NOTE: NO SALES. EDITORIAL USE ONLY (RESEARCH IN MOTION | )

Effective Jan. 1, Colorado will impose a 1.4 percent charge on prepaid phone cards and wireless services to help fund the state's 911 system. The fee was authorized under Senate Bill 120, which Gov. Bill Ritter signed this month. Previously, the state collected a 911 charge only on land lines and postpaid cellphones, or wireless services with contracts. Those funds amount to about $6 million a year. Colorado will be the seventh state to implement a 911 charge on prepaid phone services, according to AT&T, which supported the legislation.

The additional funding could help advance new technologies for emergency-response services, such as the ability for 911 centers to accept text messages and photos.

"This is a big win for our state and will help ensure emergency communications systems continue to serve Coloradans," AT&T state president Bill Soards said. Andy Vuong, The Denver Post