Wait till January-end, RIM tells Indian government
29 Oct 2010
BlackBerry smartphone maker Research In Motion (RIM) has finally agreed to provide lawful interception for access to its messaging services, but not until end-January 2011.
RIM said it has set up an interim arrangement for lawful interception of the BlackBerry messenger (BBM) services. Accordingly, the BBM services will continue to be available, a company release said today.
The union home ministry also issued a statement that discussions were on between Canadian-manufacturer RIM and the government on the issue of providing access for lawful interception.
"RIM has set up an interim arrangement for lawful interception of BBM services and also assured the government that they will provide the final solution for the lawful interception of BBM services by 31 January 2011," the statement said adding, accordingly, the BBM services will continue to be available.
The government had earlier extended the deadline for giving security agencies access to BlackBerry's messaging service to 31 December after it first extended the original 31 August deadline to 31 October.
India has around a million BlackBerry subscribers and service providers are liable to put in a mechanism allowing security agencies to intercept any conversation or message of any subscriber whenever required as per licensing conditions.
RIM, however, has informed the government that they could not provide any technology on intercepting the BlackBerry Enterprise Service (BES).
The government is now awaiting a report from the technical committees of the Department of Telecom and the National Technical Research Organisations before taking any decision.
.webp)
