Alcatel-Lucent and RIM Sign Agreement to Distribute BlackBerry in China

Alcatel-Lucent and Research in Motion announced they have signed a strategic agreement for the distribution of BlackBerry devices in China. The first smartphone to be offered to Chinese enterprise customers as a result of the partnership is the BlackBerry 8700.

"This strategic partnership perfectly matches Alcatel-Lucent's global presence and strength in the Chinese market with the global awareness and popularity of RIM's BlackBerry brand," said Frederic Rose, President of Alcatel Shanghai Bell and President of Alcatel-Lucent's Asia Pacific activities. "This agreement strengthens the distribution frame agreement that Alcatel-Lucent and RIM signed last year covering Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia and now extends to China."

The first shipments of smartphones to the distribution networks have already started, with the availability to Chinese business customers expected to happen later this year. Alcatel-Lucent achieved certification of the BlackBerry 8700 for the Chinese market via a partnership with TCL Communications, a mobile device manufacturer that holds the Alcatel brand for mobile phones. Research in Motion and TCL Communications are currently showcasing BlackBerry smartphones at the PT/EXPO COMM CHINA 2007 show in Beijing.

"Following our launch of the BlackBerry service with China Mobile, we are very pleased to now enter this smartphone distribution agreement with Alcatel-Lucent and Alcatel Shanghai Bell. Our partnership with Alcatel-Lucent has been very productive in other regions and has been key in our progress to import smartphones into the Chinese market," said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO of Research In Motion. "The BlackBerry platform offers robust and unmatched benefits for enterprise customers that wish to enhance mobile productivity and competitive advantage. We look forward to building on the early interest and momentum we are experiencing in China with both multinational and domestic corporations."

The agreement for the Chinese distribution market is part of Research in Motion's ongoing global expansion strategy that has made the BlackBerry solution available to the customers of more than 300 carriers worldwide.