RIM has somehow come in terms with the government of Saudi Arabia regarding the ban on BlackBerry services in the country. Saudi Arabia was about to ban the BlackBerry Service and some other Internet related features of the BlackBerry smartphones due to security reasons, given that they are worried terrorists would coordinate their activities through the means of RIM’s services which wasn’t monitored by the government. Read more…

In a ‘fiery’ interview by The Wall Street Journal, RIM’s co-CEO Mike Lazaridis commented on the recent multiple bans on their BlackBerry smartphones. Lazaridis said that “this is about the Internet,” and that “everything on the Internet is encrypted. This not a BlackBerry-only issue,” before adding that if “they can’t deal with the Internet, they should shut it off.” But that’s not all. Lazaridis further went on to saying that “we’re going to continue to work with them to make sure they understand the reality of the Internet,” noting that “a lot of these people don’t have Ph.Ds, and they don’t have a degree in computer science.” Despite those statements, however, Lazaridis seems confident that the situation will get sorted out, saying that it “will get resolved if there is a chance for rational discussion.”

Hmm… sounds to me like he’s not very happy and doesn’t wish to collaborate with them. Actually, that is very true. If the Middle East powerhouse wants to ban the BlackBerry, they might as well ban all the smartphones like Apple’s iPhone and HTC’s Android phones too. Who would in his sane mind allow a breach in their customers’ content privacy?

SOURCE via Wall Street Journal

The folks in UAE might have until October to scout for new smartphones while still enjoying their BBM until then. But the girl next door might not have a better luck then them. Saudi Arabia doesn’t seem to have a good patient when it comes to privacy issue. According to U.S. news agency SPA, the Communications and Information Technology Commission for the country has ordered all BlackBerry services in the country to be halted by this Friday. The reason apparently has to do with “not meet[ing] regulatory requirements,” which echoes what UAE and India have said before. Looks like the new Torch 9800 won’t be going to the Middle East so soon.

[via Yahoo! News]

If you carry a BlackBerry and plans to go to Dubai soon, you might need to consider getting a new phone, or any other arrangement. The important thing is, you need to leave behind your BlackBerry. This is because the UAE has confirmed that their BlackBerry ban also applies to you, you, and you foreigners. Everyone! Blasphemy! I’ve gotta get busy and dig back my Nokia 3310 brick phone if I’m going there in October, as the ban starts at 12^th of October.

The ban applies to BlackBerry data services, so you’ll still be able to make calls from your phone. But since so much business is conducted online—and on BlackBerry—it’s going to be a huge blow to a country that depends so much on, and so actively courts, international commerce. Not very investor-friendly, unless you give them some free iPhones while they travel in UAE.

There’s still plenty of time for either RIM or the UAE telecommunications regulator to blink. Let’s hope someone does, because this current policy ends with everybody losing, except for Steve and Co.

SOURCE Washington Post

The United Arab Emirates’ Telco went for a review on RIM’s BlackBerry and notice that they weren’t able to monitor how people were using their BlackBerrys. Therefore, to counter the said revelations, their solutions were rather simple; a ban on few of the BlackBerry’s features. Not very shocking to me, but still this is very awkward. I really can’t comprehend what’s running through their mind. Yes it is okay when you ban singers like Rihanna and her sexy legs into your country due to your culture, but banning the few main features of a smartphone like Internet access, emails, and instant messaging just doesn’t cut it. The advancement of smartphones at your fingertips and yet being ignored. That’s just sad. Might as well ban the whole brand and stick to your Nokia 3310.

Saudi Arabia is similarly peeved with the BBM service, which it intends to shut down later this month. And just in case you were wondering why all this drama is taking place, the BBC  cites a Saudi Telecom board member as admitting it’s designed to pressure RIM into releasing users’ communication data “when needed.” *shrug*

[via BBC]