The Saudi government backed away Tuesday from a threat to shut down the BlackBerry corporate messenger service in the country, citing progress in talks with operators and the maker of the device, Research In Motion, over the ability to monitor encrypted messages for national security reasons.In a statement released through the state-run Saudi news agency, the Communications and Information Telecommunications Commission said it had obtained unspecified commitments from operators and R.I.M. that would aid in the country’s plan to monitor encrypted traffic on BlackBerry smartphones.To read this report in The New York Times in full, see:
www.nytimes.com/2010/08/11/technology/11rim.htmlAlso see:BlackBerry ban lifted in Saudi Arabia
The threat of a ban on certain BlackBerry functions has been temporarily lifted in Saudi Arabia, a government regulator revealed today.Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) said BlackBerry manufacturer Research In Motion (RIM) had successfully completed “part of the regulatory requirements” over the weekend, allowing a temporary reprieve to the ongoing threat of a blockage to services including email and web browsing on the company’s handsets.
www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/aug/10/blackberry-saudi-arabia-ban-liftedBlackBerry gets reprieve as Saudi praises progress
BlackBerry maker Research In Motion on Tuesday won a reprieve from a threatened ban on its Messenger texting service as Saudi Arabia said progress was being made on addressing its concerns.The company’s biggest Gulf market with 700,000 users, Saudi Arabia had threatened to ban the service last Friday before giving RIM until Monday as it worked with local firms testing servers.
in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-50741020100810RIM to share some BlackBerry codes with Saudis – source
Research In Motion has agreed to hand over user codes that would let Saudi authorities monitor its BlackBerry Messenger, as it seeks to stop the kingdom from silencing the service, a source close to the talks said on Tuesday.The source said RIM would share with Saudi Arabia the unique pin number and code for each BlackBerry registered there. That will allow authorities to read encrypted text sent via Messenger, an instant messaging service that’s distinct from email sent on the BlackBerry.
uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6793JB20100811
uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6793JB20100810