RIM + China Mobile to support TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE

Research In Motion (RIM) and China Mobile have announced plans to support TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE technologies on the BlackBerry smartphone platform. China Mobile and RIM also announced plans to launch BlackBerry® Internet Service and BlackBerry smartphones for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and professional consumers.

The latest developments in the strategic relationship between the two companies will see China Mobile and RIM cooperating to drive continued growth in the enterprise business segment and to introduce BlackBerry Internet Service and BlackBerry smartphones to the extensive SMB and professional consumer markets in China. In addition, China Mobile and RIM will collaborate on the development of BlackBerry smartphones that will support TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE technologies.

BlackBerry Internet Service is expected to be available from China Mobile in 2010. BlackBerry Internet Service together with BlackBerry smartphones will support a wide range of applications including access to social networking sites as well as email and instant messaging. BlackBerry Internet Service from China Mobile will also support customized content through services such as Mobile Market, FETION and other Web-based services.

Details regarding the availability of BlackBerry smartphones and BlackBerry Internet Service for SMBs and professional consumers in China will be announced at a later date.