Research in Motion (RIM) has struck a BlackBerry distribution agreement in China and looks set to announce a major deal today with market leader China Mobile.
RIM said yesterday it had signed Chinese IT services and distribution firm Digital China to distribute its BlackBerry devices across mainland China.
Hong Kong-listed Digital China’s distribution arm specializes in consumer and SMB customers, promising the chance for RIM to reach beyond corporate markets with its device.
It is also planning a joint announcement today with China Mobile.
The deals are critical for RIM, the original smartphone, as it faces intensifying competition from the iPhone and Android.
The news is also a sign of China’s rapid embrace of the smartphone following the launch of 3G networks earlier this year. China Unicom is selling the iPhone, and China Mobile has launched its OPhone platform.