[August 21, 2010] Government clarifies BlackBerry terms Tweet MUMBAI, Aug 22, 2010 (Khaleej Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Indian security agencies are insisting that Research In Motion (RIM), the Canadian provider of BlackBerry services, provide them access on a 'real time' and not 'deferred' basis to two of its services likely to face a ban from September 1. With just 10 days to go for the ban on two encrypted BlackBerry services to come into force, hectic negotiations are on between Indian security officials and RIM executives. The Indian home ministry has instructed all telecom service providers to block two services from RIM -- BlackBerry Enterprise Services (BES) and BlackBerry Messenger Service (BMS) -- from September 1, if the company does not provide access to these services to security agencies. India has won concessions from RIM and has allowed continuation of BlackBerry services such as voice, SMS and internet. However, encrypted services such as BES and BMS -- which are generally provided to corporate clients -- will be blocked from September 1, if RIM does not cooperate with India. These real-time corporate email and chat services are provided to its clients by RIM on secure mobile messaging and email platforms. According to RIM, these services enable its clients to create their own security keys, which even the Canadian firm cannot access. It also pleads helplessness in allowing security agencies to crack the encryption. Following extensive talks, RIM is learnt to have offered Indian agencies access to the encrypted data, but on a deferred basis. But the Canadian company would need time of up to 10 days to provide the data, which is not acceptable to the security agencies. India is worried that terrorists utilise high-end telecommunications gadgets while carrying out operations in the country. -- [email protected] To see more of the Khaleej Times, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.khaleejtimes.com. Copyright (c) 2010, Khaleej Times, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544). [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]