RIM, the manufacturer of the BlackBerry smartphones, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Chinese integrated IT services provider Digital China to enable the latter to resell BlackBerry smartphones in China.

Jim Balsillie, joint CEO of RIM, said during the signing ceremony that Digital China's existing retail sales channels will help the promotion of BlackBerry handsets in China.

Commenting on the cooperation with RIM, Digital China's president of consumer strategy, Wang Huamao, said after becoming the Chinese reseller of BlackBerry handsets, it will sell these mobile phones via its nationwide channels; and even telecom operators need to get BlackBerry handsets from Digital China.

In addition, Chinese telecom operator China Telecom will apparently officially start to provide BlackBerry 9530 mobile phones as well as BES and BIS services from March 1, 2010, at the package prices of CNY189, CNY289, CNY389, and CNY589. In May 2008, a new type of mobile phone, BlackBerry 9630, will also be available from this operator.