According to Andy Sambidge at Arabian Business(.com), it will be Dubai that will launch Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB)’s newest smartphone the BlackBerry Q5. Dubai will be allowed to offer the phone before it is imminently launched globally in the coming weeks.
Launch of BlackBerry Q5 at the Opening of Retail Concept Store
The launch of the BlackBerry Q5 will take place at the opening of the first BlackBerry Retail Concept Store, one of many that a senior Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) executive said the company would be opening with local partner Axiom Telecom throughout the region in a statement last year.
The Canadian Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) is hoping that these stores will help offset slumping U.S. sales. No word was given as to whether or not the company had any intention of offering solid gold versions of its smartphones or encrusting future handsets with jewels as a number of consumers in the region might prefer.
The first of these stores is located on level two of the Dubai Mall—the BlackBerry store will provide shoppers a chance to experience the latest models through live demos, as well as to pre-register for upcoming smartphones. In addition, the store will be the first to offer one-hour repair or replace service in the Middle East.
Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) is set to make available a limited number of BlackBerry Q5 handsets that offer a full QWERTY keyboard, an itsy-bitsy, 3.1 inch touchscreen, and BlackBerry’s newest operating system BlackBerry 10.1 . The phone will be available in black, white, and red.
This information was all made available in a recent statement by Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB).
“Customers will also have the opportunity to pre-order the smartphone at the store, which will be widely available next month from authorized carriers and retailers in the UAE and across the Middle East,” continued the statement.
Research In Motion Ltd (NASDAQ:BBRY) (TSE:BB) continues its refusal to die as industry experts have been predicting….forever, it seems. Some analysts are even suggesting that RIM will show a quarterly profit when earnings are next reported. If inroads can be made in the Middle East, a profit, as crazy as it might sound could be realized for stubborn RIM.
