BlackBerry ends licencing agreement with T-Mobile in the United States

WATERLOO, Ont. – BlackBerry Ltd. (TSX:BB) says it will not renew a licensing agreement with U.S. telecom giant T-Mobile to sell BlackBerry products when it expires on April 25, 2014.

The Waterloo, Ont.-based company says customers on the T-Mobile network should not see any difference in their service or support.

BlackBerry adds it will work closely with T-Mobile to provide customer service to any who remain on the T-Mobile U.S. network or to any customer buying devices from T-Mobile’s existing inventory.

“BlackBerry has had a positive relationship with T-Mobile for many years,” said Blackberry CEO John Chen.

“Regretfully, at this time, our strategies are not complementary and we must act in the best interest of our BlackBerry customers. We hope to work with T-Mobile again in the future when our business strategies are aligned.”

T-Mobile, based in Bellevue, Wash., provides wireless voice, messaging, and data services capable of reaching over 293 million Americans.

T-Mobile US, Inc. (NYSE:TMUS) is 67 per cent owned by Deutsche Telekom AG.