It said since the approval of the bidding procedures, it has engaged with all potential bidders, including RIM.

Even as 'other parties moved expeditiously to comply with the court approved procedures to become qualified bidders', RIM submitted its letter asking to become a bidder only July 15, the statement said.

Nortel said even though it has been trying to work with the BlackBerry maker on acceptable confidentiality terms, 'RIM has refused, however, to comply with the court approved procedures'.

In his angry statement Tuesday, the BlackBerry co-CEO urged the Canadian government to stop Nortel from selling its crucial next-generation wireless technology -- known as Long Term Evolution (LTE) -- to foreign players.

LTE will allow carriers to offer cell phones with advanced features such as online gaming and video streaming.

There is also speculation that the BlackBerry maker is not serious about buying Nortel's wireless business and is only in having a closer look at Nortel's new-generation technology.