Regulators in the United Arab Emirates have plans to block emails, instant message and web browsing for all blackberry devices starting October 11^th due to a dispute on how BlackBerry’s instant message function stores and transmits data. Saudi Arabia also has plans for two mobile operators in their country and will disable BlackBerry instant message functions.

 

The issue dates back to 2007 and were the result of failed ongoing attempts thus the decision was made by the United Arab Emirates. The regulatory authority stated that some BlackBerry services were operating beyond the enforcement of their current telecommunication regulations for their country.

Per the government they made this decision based on the current facts and in the current form which BlackBerry services allow users to act without any legal accountability and it has become a matter for social and national security concerns.

 

This ban is to affect some 500, 000 users in the United Arab Emirates who has a disagreement with Canada’s handset manufacturer and the country’s government. The United Arab Emirates country states that owned mobile operator Etisalat has encouraged BlackBerry users in their country to install the performance enhancement patch.

 

The company had criticized this patch stating it is spyware which would enable unauthorized access to private and potentially confidential information which is stored on a user’s smart phone. Etisalat is denying this claim however RIM has published instructions on how to remove this patch.