Research In Motion is all set to launch its BlackBerry service in China next month, but it is suddenly facing competition from a cheaper Chinese rival unashamedly called RedBerry. China Unicom launched the new service this month. After two years of heavy negotiations with the Chinese government, RIM was finally given the go-ahead to launch with China Mobile. RedBerry uses the same basic push-mail concept as BlackBerry but travels on a CDMA handset. Unicom openly admits it is playing off the BlackBerry brand: "The RedBerry name extends the vivid name of BlackBerry that people are already familiar with, and it also combines the new red symbol of China Unicom," the company said in a press release.
And why not? Unlike the U.S., where enterprises are locked into BlackBerry proprietary technology, competitors have an easier time taking market share away from RIM. It will be interesting to see how RIM enters a market that already has push-email competition.
To read more about the BlackBerry vs. RedBerry showdown in China:
- take a look at this article from The Globe and Mail