Research In Motion expanding BlackBerry App World to China

Weeks after launching BlackBerry services to Chinese consumers in partnership with China Telecom, Research In Motion said it is poised to unveil a new spinoff of its BlackBerry App World virtual storefront optimized for the enormous Chinese market. RIM China head Greg Shea told Reuters that App World China will open "soon," adding the handset maker is also collaborating with top Chinese digital service providers like search giant Baidu, online game solutions firm Tencent and online commerce platform Alibaba Group to create versions of their sites customized for BlackBerry handsets. "We think sometime after we put in Internet service and these other initiatives, we'll see that magic moment when we see that acceleration [in consumer adoption]," Shea said.

Prior to partnering with China Telecom, RIM offered BlackBerry services via China Mobile, the world's largest wireless operator, but the initiative primarily targeted enterprise customers served by 2G, with the carrier slow to promote the BlackBerry platform due to the absence of handsets compatible with its TD-SCDMA 3G network. Shea confirmed RIM is developing TD-SCDMA devices, but did not specify a release schedule.

For more on RIM's Chinese efforts:
- read this Reuters article

Related articles:
BlackBerry App World makeover adds carrier billing
New BlackBerry devices to rival Apple's mobile media dominance
Is BlackBerry OS 6.0 too little, too late?
Research In Motion scoops up BlackBerry app maker Viigo