RIM To Focus Channel Efforts On Carriers

The Waterloo, Ontario-based company, which has a number of integrators that sell RIM solutions to corporate customers, sees carriers as the best way to deploy solutions as new and faster 2.5G networks gain broad-scale acceptance.

"Our real strategy is to empower the carrier," he said during the CTIA keynote here.

Balsillie said RIM will look to push devices through channel programs built by the carriers. In many cases, he said, RIM will be moving its channel partners to carriers for services.

RIM plans to launch several devices that combines phone and wireless data functionality over 2.5G networks. In such cases, carriers will need to activate the service.