RIM to launch BlackBerry Style on CDMA platform in India

Mumbai, Jan 18 (PTI) Blackberry maker Research In Motion(RIM) is set to launch its new smartphone, BlackBerry Style onthe CDMA platform in the Indian market.

"After a successful launch in the US and Canada, we arenow launching BlackBerry Style, the new dual screen phone inthe Indian market through CDMA technology," Research In MotionIndia''s Managing Director, Frenny Bawa, told PTI here today.

BlackBerry Style is the first mobile with both afull-QWERTY keyboard and a flip form factor. This smartphonefrom BlackBerry also offers dual high resolution displays, thenew BlackBerry 6 operating system.

The BlackBerry Style will be offered through RelianceCommunications and Tata Indicom, the CDMA arm of TataTeleservices, Bawa said, adding the pricing will be announcedat the time of the launch.

RIM India has successfully launched devices likeBlackBerry Pearl, Curve and then Storm.

"India is an important market for us and our keyobjective is to bring new products and services in India,"Bawa said. .

With India''s smartphone market expected to grow at 110 per cent in the next three-year period, faster than the global40 per cent growth rate, "we have to make sure that the rightmix of applications and devices is delivered to fight thesmartphone battle," Bawa said.

The company also plans to launch many more applicationsin the coming years, she said.

Retail distribution has been instrumental in increasingBlackBerry smartphones'' presence in India. RIM appointedRedington India as its retail distribution partner for GSM andBrightpoint India for CDMA. While it started with nine cities,today BlackBerry smartphones are available at thousands ofcustomer touchpoints across 70 cities in India.

Commenting on BlackBerry''s security stand-off with theIndian Government, Bawa said that RIM continues to workclosely with the Government and RIM''s carrier partners inIndia "in accordance with our stated principles."

"We look forward to continue serving our Indian customerswith industry leading products and services that deliver anunmatched mobile communications experience," Bawa said.