India says RIM to resolve BlackBerry issue in 1 mth

NEW DELHI, May 16 (Reuters) - Research in Motion (RIM.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) (RIMM.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) has said it expects to resolve in a month Indian security concerns about its BlackBerry wireless e-mail device, India's telecoms minister said on Friday.

The government has held a series of meetings with RIM and mobile operators after security officials raised concerns that e-mails sent through BlackBerry devices could not be traced or intercepted.

"RIM has promised the government that they will come out with a solution in a month," minister Andimuthu Raja told reporters at an industry event.

In response to a question, Raja said Bharti Airtel (BRTI.BO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Chairman Sunil Mittal had not sought government support in his talks for a stake in South Africa's MTN Group (MTNJ.J: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

The minister also said the government was considering whether to allow foreign companies to bid at auctions for licences for third-generation services (3G) in consultation.

The telecoms regulator said last month the auctions should be restricted to existing telecoms service licence holders. (Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by John Mair)