Monday, August 09, 2010
Cloud hangs over fate of BlackBerry service
loud hangs over fate of BlackBerry service
Published: Aug 9, 2010 23:40 Updated: Aug 9, 2010 23:40
RIYADH: With the decision of the telecoms regulator in Saudi Arabia and the results of the tests conducted by three mobile firms still under wraps (at the time of going to press), hundreds of thousands of BlackBerry users were waiting Monday with bated breath to know whether the smartphone’s Messenger service was banned or not.
The three mobile operators in the Kingdom have been conducting tests on setting up of three servers to send communications and data through Saudi Arabia before Canada to allay Saudi Arabia’s security concerns.
The regulator, Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) had delayed the suspension of the service due to come into force on Friday, allowing time until Monday evening to test suggested technical solutions that would give authorities access to BlackBerry’s encrypted data.
“Nothing is clear yet. I own a BlackBerry and have subscribed to the service, but now I’m afraid it might be cut any minute,” 24-year-old gym manager Hussam Abu Baker told AFP.
“I can assure you that business is nearly halted,” mobile phone salesman Ahmed Al-Ghamdi said. “Everybody’s afraid and they all seem doubtful that BlackBerry services will continue.”
More than 700,000 people subscribe to BlackBerry in the Kingdom, with most reportedly purchasing the device for personal use. But Saudi Arabia fears the device could jeopardize its security.
Across the Gulf, governments are revealing various concerns, with Bahrain having cautioned against using BlackBerry to distribute local news while Kuwait wants a block on pornography.
Saudi Arabia is working on servers that may make it easier for authorities there to monitor BlackBerry traffic while the UAE so far is sticking to plans for its sweeping ban. The deadline being mid-October.
Local Arabic dailies have been reporting that the regulator, CITC, and the makers of BlackBerry, Research in Motion (RIM), are satisfied with the tests, with one reporting that a deal between the two was in the offing.
On Monday a technical source at one of the Kingdom’s three mobile phone companies as quoted as saying that the “tests on the server and requested programs... have been successful.”
Another telecoms source also said the talks between the CITC and RIM have ended “reaching a solution accepted by all parties,” according to Al-Shams daily.
But another official at a telecommunications provider was not as certain. “We have not received any response from the concerned authorities until now,” the official said, requesting not to be named.
CITC has remained mum since Saturday, when it gave the three providers a 48-hour grace period to seek solutions, while a deal with RIM appeared imminent. CITC announced last week it ordered mobile providers to block key BlackBerry services from Aug. 6 or face a $1.3-million fine. BlackBerry users were desperately hoping the service would be maintained.
# posted by Unknown : Monday, August 09, 2010
