http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/ Engadget Comments for RIM averts Saudi Arabia's BlackBerry messaging ban, negotiates surrender (update: 48-hour ultimatum) 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/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 12:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 12:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
sorry for my language, but news that infringes upon liberty makes me angry.

certainly, alongside foxconn, the dirty side of gadgets.]]>Aug 7th 2010 12:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
dedparrot was replying to the comment below the first one. Basically, RIM *did* have a choice. Now RIM still has a choice - they can take down the SA server and get the hell out of the country.

I think they should've called the King's bluff, rather than letting the King call their bluff. If SA is as depending on Blackberries as other stories would suggest, the King would've capitulated eventually. And what a sweet moment that would've been.]]>Aug 7th 2010 1:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 1:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 1:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
You guys are forgetting one crucial thing. RIM is a business who'e primary responsibility is to their shareholders and profit margin, just like any other business. Saudi Arabia was smart for calling RIM's bluff because they knew that in the end, the company was not going to risk losing business in that lucrative market by refusing to alleviate and complying with the concerns of the Saudi government. So, in short, this doesn't surprise me one single bit. ]]>Aug 7th 2010 1:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 1:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 1:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
"I think they should've called the King's bluff, rather than letting the King call their bluff. If SA is as depending on Blackberries as other stories would suggest"

Stories suggest? where are these stories my friend. I've lived in Saudi my whole life, they do not "depend" on blackberries the King couldn't give a s.hit about it

If anyone here thinks that this shutting down/banning of bb service was cause of finding business secrets or that kinda crap.. than just forget it cause Saudi is not America

BB's didn't exist in Saudi less than 2 years ago, like the iphone its a operator based phone.. in Saudi we don't do contracts and that useless junk, our people buy the phone outright and not loan it. Contracts for iphone 3gs have started this year but thats just one phone and even people just buy it black market

Its no secret rim is dieing, the fact that bb took off in Saudi is major news for them, they can't let this die and bb is useless without its service so what did you think was gonna happen.

the government controls the internet, the tv, pretty much everything that gives you access to info outside of Saudi, just for one reason; To stop porn, sex etc cause its a major sin and the rest of the world is relaxing on such things with everyday that passes this makes it hard for our governments,

The government wouldn't give a s.hit if Rim left, is that stay they just wanna keep it clean,

If you have problems understanding such a simple thing and think that we in Saudi are just here to destroy life than please replay with all the conspiracy theories and unless junk you want, we'll do what we usually do.. just ignore it and move on with life.

]]>Aug 7th 2010 2:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
I dont get it... America has already done this so whats the problem]]>Aug 7th 2010 2:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSA_warrantless_surveillance_controversy

What SA et all is doing is nothing compared to your homeland security department.]]>Aug 7th 2010 2:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/while I mainly agree with your statement, you might want to check the following:
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1726418/ec-dumps-blackberrys-us-claims-monitor
and
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67246V20100803

the only difference here is that a court order is needed :
that is if it is not part of the illegal wiretapping (10's of thousands during bush era)
or maybe from CIA, under anti-terrorist laws, which then come under secrecy, as it could harm the US, then no court order.

I do not believe in conspiracy theories, I've no tinfoil hat, but I don't have blinders on my eyes.
]]>Aug 7th 2010 2:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 3:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
Only the idiots and ignorant people believe the government abides by it's own laws and always use court orders. ]]>Aug 7th 2010 10:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
Ahh I see, so the infringement of liberty on our soil means we can't point it out to you guys. Classic non-logic there.]]>Aug 7th 2010 10:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
Sorry dude, the business is built on data security. Without it, there is no business. Blackberrys are useless everywhere because random countries will follow suit. Some countries are secure, others not. If your flying in the wrong airspace, opps! , the wrong people have your info.

It a shortsighted strategy that reveals that the higher ups at RIM have no idea that --secure data transmission-- is the core value of the blackberry brand and that caving to any goverment damages the military and corperate value of their devices.]]>Aug 8th 2010 12:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
No, RIM won't lose any business by doing so because most people are not that naive -- they know that was gonna happen and they know there is no true absolute privacy.]]>Aug 8th 2010 1:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
Why shouldn't other governments be allowed access to that data as well?]]>Aug 8th 2010 2:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 8th 2010 2:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
Big difference, Saudi Arabia can wire tap all they want..problem is they don't have the Technology to tap into RIMS decryption and want full access to RIM to spy at will...]]>Aug 8th 2010 1:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
There's no such a thing as liberty but the possibility to do certain things that the people in power allow anyone to do as long as such things don't take their power away from them.]]>Aug 8th 2010 9:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 12:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 12:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
Don't be so ignorant...many other countries...The US included...already do this]]>Aug 7th 2010 3:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 12:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 12:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
Money talks...]]>Aug 7th 2010 12:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/It sings and dances too.]]>Aug 7th 2010 1:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 12:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 2:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
Xenophobe much?]]>Aug 7th 2010 12:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
It depends. Do they require warrants for such access in the US? I doubt that is what the King was asking for. He most likely wanted free and open access for all his jack booted thugs, otherwise known as the King's security forces and police.

RIM should have never capitulated. I'm not expecting RIM to make a political statement, but their business reputation is built on their secure network, and they have compromised that with this move. ]]>Aug 7th 2010 12:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 2:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/]]>Aug 7th 2010 12:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/good news if US have the right to spy then other government's have the same right too.]]>Aug 7th 2010 12:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 12:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
Are the western media blind to things around ?
RIM gave Saudi the access that it has been giving to USA and others..

]]>Aug 7th 2010 1:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 1:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 1:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 2:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 3:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Do you even have any idea what you are talking about? China told Google that it can not serve unfiltered results by simply redirecting traffic for Google.cn to Google.hk, which makes sense, so Google stopped doing that and put a jpg of Google search page on google.cn that takes users to Google.hk when they click anywhere. So now everything is kosher since users type queries on Google.hk. But Google is no longer playing the censoring game. And good luck asking for gmail data. ]]>Aug 7th 2010 6:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
The fact is that Google said they would LEAVE CHINA. They said this multiple times. They didn't. They kept all their staff there, and that whole "they are hacking us!" issue sort of died in the process. Hence, they caved in. Don't get your fanboy panties in a knot.]]>Aug 8th 2010 10:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
Of course RIM will play ball, they are a business. Lazaridis is a CEO not unlike any other - he cares foremost about his company maximising revenue. He's not flippin' Che Guevara, so quit expecting some type of revolutionary response. Some people watch way too much TV .....]]>Aug 7th 2010 1:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 1:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 2:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/
that's what she said.]]>Aug 8th 2010 7:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 1:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/07/rim-averts-saudi-arabias-blackberry-messaging-ban-negotiates-s/Aug 7th 2010 1:07PM