Research In Motion, the makers of BlackBerry, have been playing with fire so-to-speak with the security concerns surrounding BlackBerry services and the some-what reluctance of RIM to disclose all BlackBerry email and traffic. DoT has almost announced a ban on BlackBerry services but decided to extend the deadline further to give RIM more time. This temporary 60-day extension has further been pushed back with the deadline now being extended to 31st December 2010.
Solutions in the past
RIM first agrred to provide metadata, which included IP access protocol of BlackBerry Enterprise Server, PIN and International Mobile Equipment Identity and other information, to security agencies. However, the agencies were looking for uninterrupted and complete access so this proposal fell through.
Then, DoT proposed that RIM set up servers in India itself which it could monitor. However, RIM was not very keen on this option. RIM has, however, has offered a solution for its messenger service access but has not found one yet for email services.
RIM defends itself
RIM are claiming that BlackBerry are not the only ones using high encryption in the market. It feels that the company is being singled out and that it is unfair for the Government to sideline only BlackBerry services. RIM believes that a ban on BlackBerry email services would be in violation to international standards of encryption.
How is this affecting BlackBerry’s market in India?
BlackBerry is definitely affected adversely by this controversy. Users are beginning to shy away from BB expecting a turn for the worse in this debate between RIM and DoT. To add to BB’s woes, Android has been termed as most popular amongst users while the launch of Windows Phone 7 will not help BlackBerry’s cause either.
How do you think this RIM-DoT saga will end? Or rather, will it ever end?
