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Expatriates in Dubai and Sharjah are in a scramble to get a good deal on a BlackBerry mobile phone.

And recently they have been able to find it for Dh200 -- a BlackBerry called BB China.

BB China are BlackBerry imitations, bearing the "Made in China" mark, sold clandestinely in several mobile shops in Dubai and Sharjah at a price ranging from Dh200 to Dh230 per unit.

They have the same appearance as the original BlackBerry, whose price moves up from Dh1,700 without the SIM card, depending on whether it is a BlackBerry Curve, BlackBerry Bold or BlackBerry Storm.

Messy, who did not want to give his last name, told Khaleej Times that he has both the original BlackBerry Curve and the "BB China".

"Spotting a difference with just one look at it cannot be found," Messy said. "They look the same until you browse the menu and discover that the BlackBerry Messenger is missing, as it is exclusively for BlackBerry users."

He said that the BB China imitations carry the advantage of having a dual SIM functions. "It is a great difference, not to mention the prestige of carrying a BlackBerry and to be branded a Blackberry user," Messy said. "Who would ever know it is not original?"

Alex told Khaleej Times that the BB China available in the market resemble the BlackBerry Curve and BlackBerry Bold. He said that the mobile phone shops selling BB China units used to sell it at Dh400 when it first hit Dubai two weeks ago, but now it can be found for Dh180.

Most BB China buyers are going beyond just taking a BlackBerry imitation. They make their new BlackBerry look like the original by purchasing original casing and other phone accessories.

Vice-Commercial Consul Zhang Baoyuan at the Commercial Section of the China Consulate General in Dubai told Khaleej Times that the Chinese government never supported any production, distribution and sale of counterfeit products.

He said that his office had not received information about this China-made BlackBerry sold illegally.

Fahad bin Shuhail, Director of Consumer Protection Department at Sharjah Municipality, said that since 2010 the municipality had initiated a plan to combat counterfeit products in cooperation with the Economic Department and Customs.

Inspectors of market control have already intensified campaigns targeting outlets that promote illegal products. The municipality has seized a large number of electronic items including BlackBerries and other mobile phones.

"We observed a huge amount of fake products and famous trademarks in some of the centres in Sharjah," Shuhail said. "However, when we arrest the traders, they say they don't know about the fact that the products are fakes.

"We have organised a comprehensive campaign to fight fake products and that they (traders) will be responsible for recognising fake products."

Khalid Saif, Director of the Commercial Control and Protection Department at SEDD, said the department was trying to work out a mechanism for controlling commercial fraud and counterfeit goods and to fight trademark forgery, commercial fraud, infringement of intellectual property rights, and piracy.

"We have launched over 30 inspection campaigns in the first half of 2009 alone," Saif said.

"As a result of these campaigns, our inspectors have confiscated and destroyed approximately 40,000 counterfeit goods, including compact discs, films, computers, plastic products, mobile phones and accessories, perfumes, car batteries and items of men's clothing." Saif said. A senior official at Sharjah Ports and Customs authority said inspectors were working round the clock to check on imported goods.

A cooperative mechanism with the private and public sectors has been initiated to eliminate counterfeit products, which seriously challenge the local economy. "Sharjah Customs has adopted a proactive policy towards forming productive partnerships with brand and international companies based on transparency to enable its workforce to effectively implement the laws," the official said.

"Such partnerships will also safeguard the local investment environment."