banning

RIM extends olive branch to Indian government

Research In Motion is hoping to find a solution to its drawn-out security battle with India by creating an industry forum to address the government's concerns.

RIM says it wants to create a forum where the company and other mobile firms could work with the Indian government to support "the lawful access needs of law enforcement agencies, while preserving the legitimate information security needs of corporations and other organizations in India."

RIM hopes to find a middle ground with India, which has said that if the company doesn't loosen security on its e-mail and instant-messaging services by the end of the month, RIM's messaging tools will be blocked by the country's wireless service providers. The Indian government, like those of United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia, contends that RIM's security encryption is too strict and limits the government's ability to monitor potentially dangerous communication.

In a statement, RIM said it believes the Indian government should value "the integrity and security of sensitive corporate information." If the government banned the encrypted communication, RIM said, it "would severely limit the effectiveness and productivity of India's corporations."

RIM is staying strong in the face of the Indian government's demands and indicated that it's not planning on giving in.… Read more

India prods wireless providers on BlackBerry ban

The Indian government has sent letters to the country's major wireless service providers informing them that if BlackBerry maker Research In Motion does not meet its demands to loosen security by August 31, then they must block e-mail and instant messaging services.

The government informed RIM last week that if it was not given access to users' e-mail, IM, and Web browsing that it would have the service shut down on the final day of the month.

Now it looks like the country is starting to make good on its threat. Tata Teleservices, one of India's largest cell … Read more

BlackBerry security: Blessing and a curse

Research In Motion's top-notch security is both a blessing and a curse for the company as governments in some key emerging markets, where RIM is looking for growth, threaten to block the BlackBerry service over national security concerns.

Last week, governments in several countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and India threatened to shut down BlackBerry e-mail and Web browsing services in their countries. Regulators in these countries said that RIM's stringent encryption and security network pose security concerns since authorities are unable to monitor and read e-mails and Web browsing activity.

With more than … Read more

BlackBerry maker and Saudis close to a deal?

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is supposedly working with officials in Saudi Arabia to make sure that BlackBerry users don't lose access to mobile e-mail, several news agencies reported Friday.

Government officials in Saudi Arabia announced earlier this week that they were ordering the country's three wireless operators to block BlackBerry messenger service. Officials said RIM's stringent security does not comply with policies of Saudi Arabia and presented a security risk.

BlackBerry Messenger service was expected to stop on Friday. So far, the Saudi telecommunications regulator, known as the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), has not … Read more

Clinton supports RIM in security spat

The U.S. and Canadian governments are getting involved with a dispute between some foreign governments and Research In Motion, the maker of the BlackBerry smartphone, over those countries' restrictions of the device.

On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she would try to help broker a resolution between the two sides.

"We are taking time to consult and analyze the full range of interests and issues at stake because we know that there is a legitimate security concern, but there's also a legitimate right of free use and access," The Wall Street Journal reported … Read more

RIM CEO castigates countries over BlackBerry ban

"If they can't deal with the Internet, they should shut it off."

That was just one of the comments that RIM co-CEO Michael Lazaridis made in an interview published Wednesday in The Wall Street Journal. In the interview, Lazaridis repeatedly took aim at the countries looking to ban the BlackBerry over what they are labeling national security issues. The governments want the ability to access and monitor customer communications.

"This is about the Internet," Lazaridis told the Journal. "Everything on the Internet is encrypted. This is not a BlackBerry-only issue. If they can't … Read more

BlackBerry Torch 9800 is official

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded:

Blackberry Torch is official Details on Blackberry OS 6.0 Middle Eastern countries ban Blackberry phones Google rolls out multiple log-ins Jailbreakme.com raises security eyebrows Facebook updates Android app

Two Mideast countries to ban BlackBerry functions

Two Mideast countries plan to block key features of Research In Motion's BlackBerry, citing national security concerns.

Regulators in the United Arab Emirates announced plans on Sunday to block e-mail, instant messaging, and Web browsing on the devices beginning October 11 in a dispute over how they store and transmit data. Meanwhile, neighboring Saudi Arabia has directed two mobile operators in that country to disable the BlackBerry's instant message function, according to a Reuters report.

The UAE's decision was the result of "failure of ongoing attempts, dating back to 2007, to bring BlackBerry services in the … Read more

The 404 587: Where ask and you shall receive (podcast)

The final episode of "Lost" aired yesterday, but this episode is spoiler free! However, you should know that Wilson couldn't handle the emotional scenes at the end of the episode and shed a few tears. But he also cried at the end of "Little Nicky," so don't expect too much.

If you live in a big city like us, and have ever considered inflicting irreversible damage on the guy barking away into a cell phone next to you on a subway train, a group of researchers at Cornell University know the reason why.

Following … Read more