cK http://kranston.posterous.com Most recent posts at cK posterous.com Sun, 10 Oct 2010 06:18:00 -0700 Blackberry Back on Track http://kranston.posterous.com/blackberry-back-on-track http://kranston.posterous.com/blackberry-back-on-track

FINALLY, some good progress made by the U.A.E in reference to the banning of the blackberry service in the country. Im sure all of yall have heard no more stressing on whether the service is going to be there or not. ITS LIFTED (thank GOD). Messages were sent on the 7th of October over the Blackberry Internet Server that progress has been made and the next day everyone received an sms confirming it.

Although UAE officials havent publicly announced what they flaws were in the first place and how did they rectify it. UAE has also stated that the devices are now considered to be ok following the change put in place by the RIM. This just comes 3 days before the ban was set to begin.

Reports say that the reason the ban was dropped was because of the progress made in the security system, no actual details were given nor will be given in the future due to security reasons. Some say UAE was given a back door access to monitor devices in the country.

Due to RIM's regular com pliancy with the UAE government on resolving the issue with the ban has provided them an applaud with the people and increase in their stock more importantly.

RIM has also been involved in disputes as previously written in my blog before with government like KSA, India, Lebanon, Indonesia over its Blackberry services because of the way the messages were handled. For India the ban has been extended after RIM allowed limited access to the data. Not many know about this but 3 years back when people dint even know much about the Blackberry device or knew that it even existed the French government banned officials from using because of fears that the data could be intercepted. The President of the USA, Barack Obama still uses his blackberry but ofcourse with extra security measure in the device. For KSA it has been told that RIM had agreed to share the unique pin number and code for each Blackberry registered there, allowing authorities to read and encrypt text sent via Blackberry messenger.

Many in the UAE and myself were pretty optimistic about the lifting of the ban on the service. I personally got my phone a year back but dint purchase the phone cause of the internet service or email advantages or BBM at that point, i bought mine for the sole purpose of the qualities attached to the phone and its attributes and its odd shape. For me it wasn't all about the serviced attached to the phone but the functions of the phone were more important although i have registered for the social network package with Eiisalat it does come in handy at time no argument in that. Im quite please on the outcome on this whole issue and im sure many out there are too and are regretting selling their devices for a very low rate, few had shifted to other smart phones but the imminent deadline caused some jitters nonetheless.

It would have definitely been difficult for the UAE to impose such a restriction because of the impact on local business and international business attached to the usage of the device in their daily lives.

Im just GLAD its all over now.

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Sun, 01 Aug 2010 08:56:00 -0700 Blackberry loses its grip on GCC and the trail follows http://kranston.posterous.com/blackberry-loses-its-grip-on-gcc-and-the-trai http://kranston.posterous.com/blackberry-loses-its-grip-on-gcc-and-the-trai

Sunday August 1st. the announcement has been made. Blackberry users of the two largest telecommunication companies in the UAE ( DU and Etisalat) will no longer have the capability to use the browser, email or the beloved BBM anymore in the country.

This so called battle between the UAE’s TRA (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority) and the RIM (Research In Motion) has been going on for quite a while for those who had no idea.  In June 2009, Etisalat was accused by RIM for using an update program which apparently was a spyware to send and receive all the messages and communication to a central server controlled by Etisalat. There were even complaints that the update drained user’s battery life, but later found out it was a spyware to spy on user’s activities. RIM took charge and provided an update to counter attack the spyware and remove it from the system and even released a statement saying “the update was not written by RIM”.

On July 17th, a note was posted on the Dutch Website Automation Guide, RIM explained that Etisalat distributed a surveillance application designed and developed by SS8.

SS8 is a Milpitas, California, company that develops communications surveillance products for law enforcement. When contacted the company did not respond to a telephone call seeking comment.

Etisalat responded to this by saying that it was a “slight technical fault” and said it can be uninstalled by pressing 101 on their phones.

The main reason for this harsh decision made is because Etisalat believes that the Smartphone services posses a National Security risk to the country. The concern behind this is how the data on the network is managed and stored, not to mention that it's all kept outside of the Emirates. According to the government statement, certain BlackBerry applications allow folks to misuse the service, causing serious social, judicial, and notional security repercussions. It's worth a mention that RIM uses a high level of encryption on its data transfer, which many users find attractive, though some governments may view it as a problem and a method to circumvent security forces.

"Due to its technical nature, some BlackBerry services, like the messenger, email, and web browsing, remain beyond the implementation of local laws," the TRA said.

 

It said these services could "allow individuals to commit violations without being subject to legal accountability, which would lead to dangerous implications on the social, judicial and national security."

 This suspension of the service will remain until an alternative solution has been provided. Both DU and Etisalat have been given instructions to provide their solution as soon as possible.

"Providing alternative offers that would guarantee the continuity of messenger, email and web browsing to personal and business clients is at the top of our priorities was released by the chief of TRA. This suspension of service is going to affect more than 500,00 users who are connected worldwide with clients, friends and family.

Another reason for this suspension is because a Paris-based media watchdog Reporters with Borders accused the UAE of "harassing and arresting users of BlackBerry Messenger who allegedly tried to organise a protest" against an increase in petrol prices.

 

"We call for an end to this government witch-hunt against BlackBerry Messenger users who tried to get their fellow citizens to join them in a protest," it said on Thursday, claiming that one of the organisers, Badr Ali al-Dhohori, 18, has been in custody in Abu Dhabi since July 15.

 

Moving on to other countries in the world…….

 In April this year, Bahrain became the first country in the world to take legal action against users of BlackBerry’s chat service. The Bahrain News Agency said that local consumers had been using the service to post news, despite not being licensed to do so by the local government. As a result, a Bahraini service entitled ‘Breaking News’ – which had more than 12,000 subscribers – was suspended despite the fact that most of the reports were reposted from official news postings. 

In Saudi Arabia, the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) did say that it would take action against RIM if it did not locate its servers in the country. However, RIM refused, and the issue seems to have petered out due to no further response from the regulator. 

A board member at state-controlled Saudi Telecom (STC) confirmed the regulator had imposed a ban. Speaking on Al Arabiya television, he said the Kingdom had not gone as far as the UAE, but urged BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIM) to reconsider its stance on encrypted data.

"UAE took a bolder step than Saudi Arabia whereas Saudi Arabia is only banning one, the Messenger,”. I hope this is only a kind of pressure on RIM to take steps to provide information when needed.

The BlackBerry is also a hot topic of debate in Kuwait, where officials have expressed particular concern over the BlackBerry Mobile service.

But it’s perhaps in India where RIM’s most successful product has been the subject of the closest attention. There has been evidence to suggest that BlackBerry devices were used by the coordinators of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in November 2008. While there has been speculation that the Canadian manufacturer has offered to base its servers in the country, there has as yet been no confirmation. As a result, the company is also facing a ban on the subcontinent.

RIM also faced obstacles recently in Pakistan, where the national telecommunications regulator said it blocked Internet browsers on BlackBerry handsets, citing concerns over blasphemy.

Communications are subject to monitoring in countries like the US, where the Patriot Act, passed in 2001 following the Sept. 11 attacks, permits intercepting wire, oral and electronic communications when terrorism is suspected.

I guess we just have to wait for Du and Etisalat to see what they provide as an alternative and if it really help or maybe the issue gets resolved before that time comes. (Fingers crossed Blackberry users)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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