TCL announced it began sending Research In Motion BlackBerry handsets to China Mobile in Q4 2007, meaning the devices could launch soon for the first time in China.

RIM had hoped sales in China would start last year, but recently announced that it was up to partner China Mobile to decide when the devices would go on sale.

A spokesperson for TCL Group confirmed those circumstances, telling Reuters that though it has shipped the handsets, the final call remains with China Mobile.