Blackberry Times

[CielOnTap]

Today, the Blackberry system for emails was down due to a technical issue. Regular Blackberry users must have felt adrift without their email access. If you read the display in the article, Twitter users were commenting on different carriers also seemingly affected.

BlackBerry emails flowing again
Lesley Ciarula Taylor Staff Reporter
Published On Thu Dec 17

The problem that killed email service for independent BlackBerry customers across North America for at least eight hours Thursday is fixed, Research in Motion told the Star at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Some independent BlackBerry customers started regaining email use shortly after 11:10 a.m. Thursday morning, but RIM, which makes the handheld devices, had to clear millions of backlogged emails through multiple wireless carriers before all service was restored.

"RIM has isolated and resolved the issue that was impacting some BlackBerry customers earlier this morning," said RIM spokeswoman Marisa Conway. "Some customers may still experience delays as email queues are processed. RIM is continuing to investigate the cause of the issue and apologizes for any inconvenience."
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/740047--blackberry-emails-flowing-again?bn=1

[CielOnTap]

How data is managed on BlackBerrys raises questions about popular device
July 26, 2010
By LuAnn LaSalle, The Canadian Press

MONTREAL — How email and text messages are managed on BlackBerry smartphones is facing scrutiny in the United Arab Emirates where authorities say the devices operate outside national laws. The Middle Eastern country’s telecommunications watchdog has noted that data services are managed by Research In Motion (TSX:RIM) outside local control and it wants that to change.

The United Arab Emirates is among countries that censor websites and other forms of media. “It’s a control issue,” PC Magazine analyst Sascha Segan said Monday.

Data from BlackBerrys in United Arab Emirates goes through RIM computers in the United Kingdom, he said.
“Uniquely on BlackBerrys, all email and a lot of other data goes to a set of RIM computers before it goes to its destination,” said Segan, managing editor of PCMag Mobile.http://news.therecord.com/News/article/751500

There could be a case of the company wanting to protect its technology and method of doing business, but maybe the UAE will want to ensure that its citizens don't buy Blackberries if control of technology is that big a concern.

Google left China's mainland over the matter of filtering content for the government's satisfaction. Since Google moved its servers to Hong Kong, will Google move them again once HK's 20 years after repatriation with China is attained? 1997 was the year that the British left and Hong Kong citizens wanted their way of government to stay on, not disappear unilaterally. One country, two systems was the phrase that came out of the reunification.

[CielOnTap]

Saudi regulator stops BlackBerry services
Saudi Arabia’s telecommunication regulator said yesterday that it has ordered a suspension of BlackBerry services starting on Friday as the manufacturer of the devices has failed to meet its demands. The Communications and Information Technology Commission said that “the way BlackBerry services are provided currently does not meet the regulatory criteria of the commission and the licencing conditions,” in a statement carried by state news agency SPA. It said that it has asked the kingdom’s three providers to suspend BlackBerry services starting on Friday after it had given them a grace period to get the manufacturer of the devices, Research In Motion (RIM), to “meet the regulatory demands.” Meanwhile, RIM has denied allegations it has offered some governments access to customers’ data and not others. http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=378228&version=1&template_id=57&parent_id=56

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RIM unveils BlackBerry Torch
Latest smartphone will help the Canadian technology giant fend off Apple and other rivals
Published On Tue Aug 3, 2010

The new BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone is introduced at a news conference in New York August 3, 2010.

SHANNON STAPLETON/REUTERS
Madhavi Acharya-Tom Yew Business Reporter
The latest BlackBerry smartphone may help Research In Motion grab the spotlight away from rival products and the company’s security disputes in the Middle East.

But it isn’t – and isn’t meant to be – an iPhone killer.

“RIM doesn’t need saving,” said Duncan Stewart, director of research technology, telecommunications and media for Deloitte Canada.http://www.thestar.com/business/companies/rim/article/843248--rim-unveils-blackberry-torch

[burnt fare]

Has such an offer been made? I only know of the Saudi government's interest in data access in the RIM network for the Blackberry products. Imagine if the hockey team offer was made--there would be consternation in Canada if the hockey offer proceeded to change security of the network for some executive's personal gain.

[CielOnTap]

BlackBerry users can rest easy till November
Published: Tuesday, Aug 31, 2010, 0:50 IST
By Anil Anand & Nivedita Mookerji | Place: New Delhi | Agency: DNA

Around a million BlackBerry users in India have reason for cheer. They can continue to use the smartphone as before, at least for the time being.

Amid looming fear of a ban on the service from September over security issues, BlackBerry users and telcos offering the service have got a two-month breather from the Union government, following a lengthy high-level meeting of top officials of the home ministry, telecom department and Intelligence Bureau on
Monday.

It is learnt that the government may have decided not to ban the service at this point, given that the Commonwealth Games are around the corner. This is in keeping with DNA’s report on Sunday.http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_blackberry-users-can-rest-easy-till-november_1431189

Keeping the devices in use for a big sporting event that also lines up with meeting tourism needs in order to boost the economy is a good public relations strategy. We'll see what happens after the event with the devices.