BlackBerry could get lift from government-Vodafone deal

Export Development Canada will be providing financialassistance to European telecom giant Vodafone, which the Canadiangovernment agency notes is an important customer of BlackBerry.

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The EDC said it has reached a US$850 million commercial financingdeal with Vodafone, but provided few specific details.

Instead, EDC says Vodafone -- which operates in several countries,primarily in Europe -- will generate important connections and newbusiness for many Canadian companies and suggested BlackBerry wouldbe among them.

The Globe and Mail reports that $750 million of the total will beallocated for purchases of BlackBerry offerings.

EDC assists foreign companies in purchasing goods and servicesfrom Canadian businesses, including repayable loans.

The announcement from Ottawa comes at a busy time for BlackBerry,which is scheduled to bring a new smartphone to market on Wednesdayand release its latest quarterly financial report on Friday.

Analysts are estimating BlackBerry generated about US$925 millionof revenue in its fiscal third quarter, which would be down about 22per cent from the comparable period last year.

The company, based in Waterloo, Ont., is attempting to recoverfrom a major decline in marketshare amid intense competition fromApple, Samsung and other larger companies.

According to data compiled by Thomson Reuters, analysts estimateBlackBerry will have reduced its third-quarter net loss to aboutfive cents per share on an adjusted basis -- an improvement comparedwith a year-earlier loss of 67 cents per share.