New RIM offer to Saudis is BlackBerry 'codes'-source

RIYADH | Tue Aug 10, 2010 12:05pm EDT

RIYADH Aug 10 (Reuters) - BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM.TO), aiming to avert a ban on its Messenger service in Saudi Arabia, has agreed to hand over coveted "codes" to users' phones, an industry source familiar with the talks told Reuters on Tuesday.

The Canadian company declined to make an immediate comment, referring media to its earlier statement in which it said "RIM cooperates with all governments with a consistent standard".

The biggest BlackBerry market in the Gulf with 700,000 users, Saudi Arabia had threatened to ban the Messenger service last Friday before giving RIM until Monday as it worked with local firms testing servers.

The source familiar with the negotiations told Reuters that idea -- setting up a server at each of the three local service providers - had proved impractical.

As a result, the firm has agreed to offer Saudi Arabia's interior ministry and intelligence services the codes to all Saudi BlackBerry users, said the source, declining to be identified.

A spokesman for the Saudi regulator was not available for immediate comment. (Reporting by Souhail Karam; Editing by Jason Neely, Greg Mahlich)

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Comments (3)
TheLeftCoast wrote:
…and so Rim finally caved and sold it’s soul to the House of Saud for a but few pieces of gold; to but just another ’souless’, faceless corporation.

Aug 10, 2010 12:28pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
NVresident wrote:
The question now is whether this also includes visiting professionals and what guarantees do we have that the governments will not use this resources for economic surveillance? With the Saudi and UAE governments having such an integrated relationship with competitive elements of the private sector, it sounds like business discussions are now open for all to follow.

Aug 10, 2010 12:37pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
anoncow wrote:
Does this pass for “reporting” today? Reuters seems to report anything that comes it’s way. [shrug] I hope there aren’t too many people gullible enough to believe this tripe.

Aug 10, 2010 1:02pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
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