http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 7:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Blackberry with no messaging service: Deadweight.]]>Aug 6th 2010 7:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 7:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 7:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 8:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 9:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 9:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
iPhone 4 is rumoured to have a calling feature, but it doesn't work.]]>Aug 6th 2010 10:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 10:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 10:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
So what's so hot about SA and UAE that we'd want to visit them anyway? And what would they be w/o everyone's patronage?

There are other places that are so much better and much more FREE.

]]>Aug 6th 2010 11:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/This is BB, not android. Does the bb even read Java? ]]>Aug 6th 2010 1:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
That's it. Send in Bill Clinton.]]>Aug 6th 2010 1:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 1:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
"In fact, only a dumb as shit terrorist group would allow all of their communication to be sent via a third party server located in Canada no less."

Sadly, the 'dumb shit terrorist group' that attacked Mumbai in 2008, and killed 166 people, have already been using blackberries to coordinate their assault. I daresay this is the blaring alarm that caused the countries in that region wanting to have access on blackberry data traffics.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1350120/blackberry_the_technology_used_during.html]]>Aug 6th 2010 2:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/BB is full-Java platform. No 3rd party native apps can run on a BB. Just Java.]]>Aug 6th 2010 9:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
Good news though, the TV said that Hilary Clinton was working the issue so I suppose that we shall all be saved.

Here's a couple of link to Reuters from yesterday that go some way to explaining how BlackBerry security works and what this particyular mess is all about.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6723VP20100805
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6740P220100805

Let's hope that this will help BlackBerry sales since this debacle does demonstrate just how stroing their security really is.]]>Aug 6th 2010 7:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Actually it will go down, you know how many Saudis buy Blackberrys? its crazy, most of my friends (who are saudis) buy 2-3 blackberrys every year!!!
And all the kids there (4th graders!) have BlackBerrys,, its crazy]]>Aug 6th 2010 7:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
Thank you. Because all this talk about US freedom bullshit is giving me a headache. SA is not asking anything more than what the US has been granted 10 years ago.

Q. Saudi Arabia, India and the UAE have complained that RIM won't give them the access they need to tap into BlackBerry messaging networks so they can protect their national security interests. They say that RIM grants such access to other countries, including the United States. What kind of access does the U.S. government enjoy?

A. U.S. authorities can seek a court order (i.e. Patriot Act) to tap BlackBerry traffic, giving them access to messages sent over the network. Officials with Research in Motion declined to talk about how they provide such access. It is possible that the government provides such requests directly to RIM's customers.]]>Aug 6th 2010 7:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
Thank you. It's amazing how the US media can totally overturn a story by neglecting to mention one key point.

Q. Saudi Arabia, India and the UAE have complained that RIM won't give them the access they need to tap into BlackBerry messaging networks so they can protect their national security interests. They say that RIM grants such access to other countries, including the United States. What kind of access does the U.S. government enjoy?

A. U.S. authorities can seek a court order (i.e. Patriot Act) to tap BlackBerry traffic, giving them access to messages sent over the network. Officials with Research in Motion declined to talk about how they provide such access. It is possible that the government provides such requests directly to RIM's customers.]]>Aug 6th 2010 7:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 8:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/how would you tap a line that's ten-mega-metres away from your nearest borderline?
especially when what you'll hear will still be a scrambled bunch of octets(assuming freedom of encryption is given).]]>Aug 6th 2010 8:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/]]>Aug 6th 2010 8:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 9:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
Other countries need a court order to access data. The Saudis want to spy on any communication that comes in. Oh my, a women is messaging about showing her ankles in public! Let's arrest her! Thank God we are putting criminals like that in jail.

]]>Aug 6th 2010 9:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/The actual request to RIM included blocking porn sites, sites that the authorities deem to be critical of the government and sites that promote non-Muslim religions. I guess that these are all high security issues.

It seems like RIM is actually doing more for freedom of speech than all of the other smartphone companies combined.

After SA, UAE, Kuwait and India, what's the likelihood that China and others will make similar demands?

Welcome to the Web 3.0. Our filters, our way or the highway.
]]>Aug 6th 2010 10:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/4th grade should bet around 10 years old and believe me at 10 years kids are pretty smart ;)]]>Aug 6th 2010 10:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
These governments want to limit free speech and dissent to prevent an overthrow of their dictatorships. This isn't about preventing anyone from being killed. It's about striking fear into those who might speak against Islam or the government, and preventing horny teens from seeing boobies. Spare me the "security" crap, all ye terrorist training camp sponsors.]]>Aug 6th 2010 10:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Err.... agreed.
]]>Aug 6th 2010 10:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/I'm Canadian, and I don't say "aboot". And I would say trolls like you are more annoying than us Canadians.]]>Aug 6th 2010 10:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
If someone's plotting an attack on their soil, they need to know.
If someone's planning to overthrow them, they need to know.
If someone watching porn, they couldn't care less.

This isn't about censorship, it's about security.

The US/UK/Canada haven't requested a ban because they don't need one. They already have access. Does it require a court order? Yes it does. How long does it take to get this court order? Zero seconds, thanks to anti-terror laws set 10 years ago.]]>Aug 6th 2010 11:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 11:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 12:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/BTW my wife says she can still talk to her friends who are in Saudi (we are in london now)... guess it takes a bit of time]]>Aug 6th 2010 7:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 7:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 7:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 7:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Actually all the teleco are privatized, so the gov has no say in the refunds]]>Aug 6th 2010 7:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
http://www.etisalat.ae/blackberry/alternative.html]]>Aug 6th 2010 11:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 7:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
Somebody one big time: Nokia, and its new shareholders.]]>Aug 6th 2010 7:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
Somebody else just lost for not knowing the difference between "one" and "won".]]>Aug 6th 2010 10:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Geez, why should you attack this guy's linguistic skill? Even in the internet, that's low. And it's not like he's trolling or inflaming people, unlike about a dozen other posts that I saw in here.]]>Aug 6th 2010 2:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 7:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 8:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
>_>]]>Aug 6th 2010 7:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
Since the point of this is so they can monitor messages, you're not far from the truth. (gotta love that they package the ability to prevent the gov from spying on you as a "security concern." nicely spun.) but of course, this is not the US, and I'm not sure what sorts of rights against search and seizure they have to begin with. I'm guessing it's not like the US. ]]>Aug 6th 2010 7:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/
I should be a consumer rights advocate, this stuff just pisses me off]]>Aug 6th 2010 7:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 8:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/blackberry-messaging-shut-down-in-saudi-arabia-users-feel-early/Aug 6th 2010 9:06AM