Get a BlackBerry smartphone with a data service plan and use it for two months. If happy, buy it. Else surrender to the company-gratis.

The new scheme from Research In Motion, which manufactures BlackBerry products, will be launched in Tamil Nadu circle on April 13, Tamil New Year's Day.

This is likely to attract a number of young consumers to use the BlackBerry smartphone devices, said a company official.

“We want people to experience our devices with various applications for two months. If they are not happy, we will take back the device without any grudge,” said Mr Amit Mathur, Director, Channel Sales, India, RIM.

A consumer can use all the services and applications that come with the data plan for free. This includes browsing the Internet, and use of email and BlackBerry Messenger services, he told Business Line .

RIM has tied up with telecom operator Aircel, which has a strong presence in Tamil Nadu. Earlier, RIM tried out such a scheme in the Delhi circle. However, it did not have a data plan. Despite this, the retention rate through the scheme was 60-80 per cent, he said.

Mr Mathur said that customers see a value for BlackBerry once they experience it. That's why the company is setting up a number of experience zones across the country to help consumers ‘feel' BlackBerry products.

While the company does not disclose its consumer base in India, it is learnt that there are nearly 1.3 million consumers in India for BlackBerry.

Mr Mathur said that RIM wants to increase its presence in tier-II and -III cities. Having established a strong presence in the corporate world, it is turning its attention to the huge youth segment, he said.

> raja@thehindu.co.in

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