Chinese IT retailer Suning announced on June 17 that the company will sell two types of Blackberry Smartphones manufactured by RIM (Research in Motion) across China on June 18, 2010, marking RIM's first foray into the Chinese consumer market, the Sohu IT News reported on June 17. Two Blackberry Smartphones, dubbed the 8310 and 8910, are priced at 3,680 RMB (US$541.2; US$1 = 6.8 RMB) and 4,880 RMB (717.6 RMB), respectively, without phone subsidies and support GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)/GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)/EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) networks, according to the same source. Pursuant to the agreement signed with RIM, Suning will be the exclusive seller for Blackberry Smartphones in China. Suning stated that the company will open stores in 22 major cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, mainly focusing on the sales of Blackberry Smartphones. In addition, Suning is expected to soon begin a pan-China launch of RIM's latest Blackberry Smartphone, dubbed the 9530.

 

Meanwhile, two Chinese telecom operators China Mobile and China Telecom have formed cooperation relationships with RIM since the end of 2009 but they mainly sell Blackberry Smartphones to government and enterprise users in China.