RIM's shipping BlackBerry phones to Russia in 2008

We're going to refrain from the "In Soviet Russia..." jokes and get straight to the point: RIM is bringing its BlackBerry phones to Russia in Q1 2008. Apparently the hang up was with Russian security agencies, but now that the two main carriers, MTS and Vimpelcom, have gotten approval from the FSB, the phones are finally able to enter Russia in acronymical harmony. MTS has had BlackBerry phones in Ukraine since October, any many business customers use foreign phones via roaming, but this is the first time in a while the phones are going legit in actual Russia. The carriers have been granted permission for one year of sales, but as we all know, once a few government officials go CrackBerry, they're never going back.

[DJWhiplash2001 @ Nov 27th 2007 11:13AM]

In Soviet Russia, Blackberry brings you!

Had to do it, sorry :(.

[JJV @ Nov 27th 2007 11:24AM]

lol yeah me to. In Soviet Russia, Russia ships you

[MichaelSidorov @ Nov 27th 2007 11:26AM]

Так уж и быть ... на русском напишу комент :) !!! На счет новости !!! ща этот блекбери потом аЙфончик (говенный:)) короче понеслась.....

[DJWhiplash2001 @ Nov 27th 2007 11:31AM]

lol what?

[Mark @ Nov 27th 2007 12:08PM]

accourding to google translate:

"So too, and be ... the Russian write Coment:)! At the expense of news! this replaces blekberi then aYfonchik (shitty:)) shorter poneslas"

i hope that cleared it up for you :/

[mrberkut @ Nov 27th 2007 6:07PM]

Ahh, heck... I'll translate...

"Oh, well... I'll write a comment in Russian :) !!! In regards to the news!!! first blackberry, then iPhone, in short... it's going."

It's not a perfect translation, but close enough for anybody to understand... In response to MichaelSidorov's comment, I agree... It's hard to overlook Russia's fast economic development, so it's just a matter of time before more high tech toys start appearing. Some of the Asian cell manufacturers already launch their products in Russia before they launch them in US, so tech industry is definitely taking off...

[Anton @ Nov 27th 2007 7:02PM]

ежевика съедобной

[Matthew Hilario @ Nov 27th 2007 11:35AM]

they'll be russian to get the new blackberry.

[Flashpoint @ Nov 27th 2007 12:02PM]

Can Blackberry's recieve a signal through iron curtains?

[Dimplemonkey @ Nov 27th 2007 12:10PM]

Now we can text chat with Moose and Squirrel!

[Sam @ Nov 27th 2007 12:18PM]

Note to Engadget:

You should NEVER refrain from "In Soviet Russia ... " jokes. EVER.

[Cameron @ Nov 27th 2007 12:33PM]

In Soviet Russia, RIM jobs you!

[The Pepto Pimp @ Nov 27th 2007 3:26PM]

Whoah!

That was fairly subtle...

[james @ Nov 27th 2007 12:44PM]

"in soviet russia blackberry pins you"

[Expat in Russia @ Nov 27th 2007 1:16PM]

It should be noted that the *use* of blackberries is already quite common in Russia, at least among the ranks of Western companies and top Russian companies. These companies have, until now, generally bought blackberries in the UK for their employees and swallowed the roaming fees. The real news here is that the Russian mobile operators (MTS, VimpelCom, MegaFon, etc.) will now be able to offer the blackberries themselves.

[Constable Odo @ Nov 27th 2007 1:18PM]

It's not an Apple iPhone. It's merely a Ukranian road apple.

[John Stracke @ Nov 27th 2007 1:35PM]

In Soviet Russia, cameraphone watches YOU!

[Coutty @ Nov 28th 2007 1:07AM]

In USA, spy watches YOU! Nya =^_^=
My bear with balalayka laught))))

Sorry, I know English not very well ;)

P.S. С другой стороны - может быть и так. Но мы на это х** ложили. Так уж повелось.

[r3loaded @ Nov 27th 2007 1:59PM]

In Soviet Russia, Blackberry e-mail checks you!

I personally think the Soviet Russia jokes are getting outdated now. How bout we replace them with North Korea?

[Scooter @ Nov 27th 2007 3:45PM]

how sbout we replace them with jokes abut the USA? Why demonise whole countries when their foreign policies don't match those of your current ruler and a flag-waving news channel?

[DJWhiplash2001 @ Nov 27th 2007 3:50PM]

In Soviet Russia, USA jokes about you!

[r3loaded @ Nov 27th 2007 4:41PM]

Erm, first of all, wrong country pal. Not everyone on Engadget is American. Secondly, notice how I used a country which is governed by a totalitarian and oppressive regime rather than one with a different political system? Otherwise I could have just as easily used China or Cuba.

[Anton @ Nov 27th 2007 7:17PM]

性交

[JozJonlin @ Nov 27th 2007 8:05PM]

Because that's what Russia needs; more of a rift between the wealthy and the poor. Sure, Moscow has one of the highest concentrations of wealthy people on the planet. Just drive around its congested streets and count the high dollar imported cars that even most middle class Americans can't afford. Then take a trip to central or eastern Siberia and look around. I've been in villages where central heating meant having a coal fired stove in the middle of your one or two room hovel. I've been in markets where they added your grocery total with an abacus. Low tech, but effective. I guess I'm just trying to say there is a huge division in Russia, where cities like Moscow are as modern as any western city, while the rest of the country is still mired in third world living conditions. It's sad, really.

[Coutty @ Nov 28th 2007 12:31AM]

Да вы запарили уже со своей "Советской" Россией.
Inquirer вообще пишет: ГУЛАГ в Сибири; "купи AMD - поддержи коммунизм".
Хрень какая-то...

BlackBerry is not interressing for... me and other =^_^=
В глубинке вряд ли кто-то будет покупать ЭТО. Всё-таки уже давно есть смартфоны.
Ну не любят у нас многокнопочные такие фиговинки.
Насчёт iPhone полностью согласен - та же чушь. Устройства с DRM здесь никогда не будет ждать успех (купят их только ради распальцовки).
Простите за мой "английский"))

Вообще же я люблю этот сайт. Интересные новости проскакивают ;)

[jennyyu @ Nov 28th 2007 4:32AM]

i agree with the guy "expact in Russia".
The real news here is that the Russian mobile operators (MTS, VimpelCom, MegaFon, etc.) will now be able to offer the blackberries themselves.
i am satisfied with my blackberries, we have been friends for one years, and i gotten a bithday present for her from
http://www.cellphonefocus.com/products_list.php?cid=1011
only a joke. LOL