BlackBerry picks Brightpoint GB

BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIM) has appointed Brightpoint GB as an official UK distributor as it steps up its channel sales push going into 2009.

The deal, not expected to see Brightpoint GB sell BlackBerry handsets into channels until January, completes a  trio of major contractual wins for Brightpoint GB, following its selection as official UK distributor for HTC and Nokia also.

RIM is looking to step up sales in the SME space and go beyond network sales to corporate and consumer markets.

RIM is understood to have been spurred to increase its activity within the SME reseller channel, in part, because of O2 UK’s dealer revenue share scheme, which has cost it some sales as dealers have struggled to subsidise premium BlackBerry phones.

Brightpoint entered into a global deal with RIM in May, around the same time it signed up UK rival 20:20 Mobile for European distribution.

RIM licences are starting to go to Brightpoint’s regional units now.

Brightpoint GB has distributed BlackBerry stock on behalf of network operators in the UK, but this is its first direct trade.

Brightpoint refused to comment. RIM was unavailable at press.