First BlackBerry contract sold in Russia

Well, what do you know? We heard that RIM was gearing up to ship BlackBerry handsets to Russia in 2008, and lo and behold, the addiction is indeed sliding over to the world's largest country. British American Tobacco became the first client of BlackBerry service in the nation, and it's being provided by the beautifully-named Vimpelcom. As expected, Vimpelcom's customers will be handed the same 8700g model that was introduced to Chinese users when RIM broke into that territory last July. As it stands, the aforesaid operator is already in talks with some 40 more potential corporate clients, and rival Mobile TeleSystems is also getting set to unleash BB service with 30 corporate clients. Kudos, Russia -- prepare for splintered relationships, 24 hour work days and a feeling of anxiety you can't even fathom when service collapses for even a moment.

[Flashpoint @ Apr 4th 2008 11:37AM]

In Soviet Russia, email pushes YOU !

[phanbouy @ Apr 4th 2008 1:29PM]

best possible joke

[Hugh Newmark @ Apr 4th 2008 11:44AM]

I wish I wouldn't automatically hum the Rocky theme every time I read anything about Russia. . .

Props to Russia for entering the year 2008.

[y3k.nik @ Apr 4th 2008 11:44AM]

Why is this such a big deal? Now if they managed to push BB in Cuba, I would be impressed.

[Kiwi616 @ Apr 4th 2008 11:46AM]

Russia....WE welcome you to 1997!

[Kirill Bolgarov @ Apr 9th 2008 7:24PM]

mate, what makes you think that Russia is so "way behind"? i mean - are those the schwarzenegger movies or the stalone movies?

[tom @ Apr 4th 2008 11:54AM]

Let the crackberry addiction spread!

[Keisha Kornbread @ Apr 4th 2008 11:58AM]

WOO HOO!!

[Maze @ Apr 4th 2008 12:06PM]

Oh no! Now, they can finally launch their nukular missiles!

[riggs @ Apr 4th 2008 12:12PM]

castro loves his iphone too much.

[riggs @ Apr 4th 2008 12:13PM]

your reply system sucks weblogs inc.

[Barron @ Apr 4th 2008 12:16PM]

Me for one am glad its the 8700 because these things are really built solid and will last a good number of years which is expected in harsh climate it is going into.

[Homeboy @ Apr 4th 2008 12:18PM]

Blah, when I read saw the entry I expected to see a much better "In Soviet Russia"-joke in the comment section. Where our main man phanbouy???

[Matt @ Apr 4th 2008 12:29PM]

Fitting move sending the 8700g, as it looks like it was designed in Soviet Russia. Next we should send them Kindles.

[DeadPixel @ Apr 4th 2008 12:38PM]

wow, just a tad behind the times

[r3loaded @ Apr 4th 2008 12:41PM]

Awww, you beat me to it...

[Ben @ Apr 4th 2008 12:48PM]

8700g model? Boy that's heavy!

Har har har...

[tom @ Apr 4th 2008 1:40PM]

It is for corporate client, 8700g gets the job done without all the fun

[Dave @ Apr 4th 2008 1:49PM]

and getting the job done with no fun is what Russia is all about!

[ColonelSmith @ Apr 4th 2008 1:53PM]

Haha, I was hoping I'd be the one to break that out

[Rctdaemon @ Apr 4th 2008 2:09PM]

In Soviet Russia, Black berries YOU!

[Albatross @ Apr 4th 2008 2:39PM]

Guys, who is the enemy?


THE RUSSIANS!

So why are we giving the ENEMY our teknawlogey?

[Donald @ Apr 4th 2008 5:04PM]

Dude, the Cold War's been over since 1991.

[josh @ Apr 4th 2008 3:05PM]

does anybody know if verizon has employee discounts if so what are they and can you get them with a part time job, a friend asked and i had absolutly no clue. Do any other carriers have part time employee discounts

[Tim @ Apr 4th 2008 6:57PM]

...

I don't understand your thought process in posting that question here.

It scares the hell out of me that you are allowed to vote.

[SashaRuso @ Apr 4th 2008 3:52PM]

Vyimpelkom's mobile brand is BeeLine ... all of 3 main telco's were providing own versions of push mail since circa 2000

[gibletoid @ Apr 4th 2008 4:19PM]

Um.... Canada is the world's largest country. Not Russia anymore.

Russia hasn't been the largest country since it broke up into different republicstans.

[Kirill Bolgarov @ Apr 9th 2008 7:25PM]

Russia still is the largest country - just check wikipedia or smth

[happy_penguin @ Apr 4th 2008 4:28PM]

I wonder if it works on a noo-clee-arr wessel.

[Marta Szafran @ Apr 4th 2008 4:42PM]

Your website is very interesting. I am planning to use it every day to get my financial information. Keep with good work...
Thank you,
warm regards,
Marta

[phanbouy @ Apr 4th 2008 5:23PM]

in other news, shares of Marta Szafran have fallen 43% in after hours trading

[Twitchy @ Apr 4th 2008 6:32PM]

In former Soviet Russia, Crackberry has you!

[OneLove @ Apr 5th 2008 4:28PM]

In Soviet Russia, comment system fucks up your reply, people complain and nobody fixes it.

[Borik @ Apr 7th 2008 12:17AM]

First and Last... let see, when 96% of people are dirt poor all they need is BlackBerryies

[david hasselhoff @ Apr 9th 2008 7:29PM]

I would say that 96% are really 'that' poor. Moreover - the further from the big rich cities the more expensive the mobiles =) That's weird, I know...