Alcatel-Lucent and Research In Motion (RIM) have expanded their partnership with the signing of a strategic agreement for the distribution of BlackBerry smartphones in China. The first smartphone offered to Chinese enterprise customers through this agreement will be the 8700 model.

The announcement coincides with the first shipment of smartphones to distribution networks in China and availability for Chinese enterprise customers in key markets is expected to begin later this year. Alcatel-Lucent achieved certification of the 8700 model for the Chinese market through partnership with TCL Communications, a major mobile device manufacturer in China that holds the Alcatel brand for mobile handsets.

“Following our launch of the BlackBerry service with China Mobile, we are very pleased to now enter this smartphone distribution agreement with Alcatel-Lucent and Alcatel Shanghai Bell,” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO of Research In Motion.