RIM: China mobile allowing push email services on BlackBerry devices for first time.

WorldWideTech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Research In Motion Ltd. and the Beijing unit of China Mobile Ltd. on Friday began offering the retail-customer version of BlackBerry services for small businesses and personal users in Beijing, RIM said.

RIM has offered BlackBerry handsets to big businesses in China since 2006 through China Mobile. The smartphones became available to Chinese consumers in June, when Digital China Holdings Ltd. launched retail sales, but China Mobile didn't yet offer the "push" technology that allows users to receive emails.

China Mobile Group Beijing Co. is offering BlackBerry Internet Service plans at CNY98-CNY108 a month, RIM said in a statement.

RIM spokeswoman Katie Lee said the services will be launched in the rest of China later, but didn't provide a time line.

A China Mobile spokeswoman didn't immediately reply to a request for comment.