It may have taken a little longer than expected, but Research in Motion Ltd. can now sell its BlackBerry in the untapped Chinese market. The Waterloo ON-based company inked an agreement with Alcatel-Lucent that allows for the distribution of the popular email, mobile phone and productivity enhancer in China. The 8700 will be the first BlackBerry to be distributed in the country. Distribution was only made possible when Alcatel-Lucent achieved certification of the 8700 through partnership with TCL Communications, a mobile device manufacturer in China that holds the Alcatel brand for mobile handsets. RIM and TCL Communications are showcasing BlackBerry devices at the PT Expo Comm China 2007 event in Beijing this week.

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire Report now.