Research In Motion (RIM) may be top dog, but isn't the only wireless e-mail game in town. And it may not be the only company vulnerable to the possible consequences of treading on patents held by Virginia-based holding company NTP, Inc.

One longtime competitor, Visto Corporation, today inked a deal with NTP to provide (quote) "stability in these turbulent times." The two-part deal involves Visto licensing NTP patents—the same ones that got RIM into its current pickle—and NPT acquiring a stake in the company. The companies did not reveal how much equity NTP would recieve.

With the agreement, Visto receives access to NTP's patents until they expire. The wireless e-mail provider already holds 25 of its own. The two companies do not beat around the bush when speaking about the reason for the deal—to prevent their own legal entanglement.

NTP co-founder Donald Stout said, "This is a clear win for mobile e-mail users everywhere as it provides them with a viable alternative to RIM that protects them from any NTP litigation risk. Users of Visto Mobile can be assured of access to mobile email and data as they are licensed to use NTP's intellectual property. We are excited about our ownership stake in Visto's future."

"As an inventor committed to protecting and fostering innovation, I respect the right to protect and defend intellectual property," states Daniel Mendez, co-founder and senior VP for Visto.

Visto, as with other mob-e-mail providers, wants enterprises, consumers and carriers to know that it has been, is and will be a viable alternative to RIM.

The company's president, chairman and CEO Brian Bogosian asserts, "Mobile users now know that Visto provides a safe and secure harbor that today Blackberry cannot offer its own customers...With 25 patents in this market bolstered with the protection of the NTP license, it is clear that Visto is a technology leader in providing push e-mail and will be a viable alternative long after other players have seen their solutions silenced."

Visto provides push e-mail and data access - contacts, calendar, etc. - to a broad set (60) of mobile phones and smartphones from over twenty carriers worldwide. Unlike RIM, however, Visto, stays in the background. Its main focus is on licensing its platform to wireless carriers, such as Vodafone, who turn around and sell it under their own brand name.