RIM Avoids Blackberry Ban In India, Fears Getting Banned in UAE and Saudi Arabia Too
Research in Motion (RIM) made a successful last-ditch effort to avoid an immediate Blackberry ban in India. August 31 was the deadline set by the Indian government for the Canadian-company to have Blackberry users’ encrypted email and IM messages be accessible to government and regulatory bodies. India is just one of several countries who are threatening complete ban against Research in Motion Blackberry smartphones. Like Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE), government officials in India feared Blackberry’s encrypted email and Instant Messaging system might be used by criminals to cause public damage and mayhem. This is really bad for business because after the release of Blackberry Torch 9800, RIM hoped to increase its stronghold in India.
The Indian Government just announced moments ago that Research in Motion has caved into their demand. Starting September 1, 2010, the government’s security agencies will have full access to the encrypted data of RIM’s BlackBerry users. After two months of denying that they have a master unlock code for all BlackBerry phones and therefore cannot comply with the Indian government’s demands, RIM has finally admitted they can let anybody have a look on every BlackBerry users’ private email and IM messages. They gave Indian security forces some software tools and unlock key to monitor any BlackBerry user who’s suspected to be a national security threat.
An Indian BlackBerry retail shop. No need to close down, BlackBerry ban is not coming true!
Fearful of suffering massive income loss and public outrage from 1.2 Million Blackberry users in India, RIM had no choice but to surrender. Blackberry Bold 9700 Smartphone Codename “Onyx” (Blackberry Bold 2) was also a hit model in the country last year. The Indian officials were adamant that if the company refuses to comply by August 31, all BlackBerry users will be banned from using the service by September 1. RIM’s stock’s price has suffered almost a 20% decline since this security issue was raised by concerned governments around the globe. Investors of the Canadian company have apparently managed to convince the management to give in to the demands of India. Should the ban goes through in that country, it will start a catastrophic domino-effect with other countries following suit.
While RIM and the Indian government has come to an amicable settlement, Indian BlackBerry owners now can only gripe about a clear violation of their privacy. Every one of them will now be subject to open scrutiny of their private Email and IM communication. This is what Research in Motion used as a defense against government snooping on their clients but hey, it’s all about the money. RIM is a business and a ban would seriously affect their revenue stream from these countries – India, UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – which will cost millions of dollars in losses.
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hello, it’s not about the business. it’s the sake of our country (INDIA). If the security agencies is not find blackberry suitable for the sake of the country, then it’s ok to ban Blackberry in Inida. However, if (RIM) is ready to this option & ready to accept all the conditions of the security, thn it can do its business in INDIA without problems.
@sameer, ok, i think i got what you meant with your comment on the report.
Tum ho pagal bb se achi koi service nahi bas bsnl ki lal ho rahi hai k woh isse betar service nahi nikal sakte.
Apni govement bas paisa mangti hai thats all.