BlackBerry Expands Overseas

After eight years of trying, Research in Motion has finally been given clearance to sell its BlackBerry wireless handheld device in China.

Research in Motion's co-chief executive, James L. Balsillie, formally announced the Blackberry expansion into China during a recent conference call with analysts. It was during this conference call that Balsillie expressed the company's long-standing desire to appease those customers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou who have waited years to own their first BlackBerry. (Source: nytimes.com)

The expansion into China could not have come at a better time for Research in Motion (RIM). The company is currently looking to compete in America with the recently released Apple iPhone, which has already experienced great success since its debut.

The difference between the two devices is that the iPhone can handle phone calls, emails, web browsing, music and videos, while the BlackBerry offers email, mobile telephone, text messaging, Internet faxing, web browsing and other wireless information services.

RIM is expected to start selling its 8700g handset in Chinese stores by the end of August. Retailers in China have already received more than 5,000 advance orders for the device. (Source: usatoday.com)

This is not the first time that the BlackBerry has entered into an Asian market. Currently, the popular handheld can be found in retail locations all across India and Japan; however, RIM has admitted that the increasing demand for the BlackBerry in China is something that has been well worth the eight year wait.

The sheer population density of China and the novelty of a device that was released in 1999 (practically ancient in the ever-evolving technological world) gives Research in Motion an opportunity to reinvent themselves at a time when the industry is still buzzing over the iPhone.

So far, Research in Motion has continued to experience increasing revenue. The BlackBerry subscriber account grew 1.2 million according to first quarter statistics. This brings the total number of BlackBerry subscribers to 9.2 million worldwide. (Source: nytimes.com)