U.S. phone company Sprint Corp. will begin offering Research In Motion Ltd.'s popular BlackBerry wireless e-mail service later this year, the companies said on Monday.
Sprint, the No. 4 U.S. wireless and long-distance phone company, is one of the few major wireless companies in North America that doesn't currently offer BlackBerry.
The two firms said the service will be offered to business customers on select handheld devices certified to operate on Sprint's network.
But they did not specify whether this would be RIM's own handheld device, known for its distinctive thumb-operated keyboard, or that of a rival.
RIM has signed several deals with rival handheld makers to allow them to carry the BlackBerry e-mail and data service. The licensing strategy is an attempt by RIM to expand its subscriber base while turning potential competitors into customers.
"Sprint is the fourth-largest carrier in the U.S. and was the last large U.S. carrier not yet offering BlackBerry," Canaccord Capital analyst Michael Abramsky said in a note to clients. "Sprint PCS has a significant business base representing an attractive BlackBerry opportunity."
He has the stock rated "buy" with a target price of $75.
