Saudi Arabia pleased by RIM's concession, says BlackBerry messaging can stay for now
By Sean Hollister 
posted August 10th 2010 3:33PM
posted August 10th 2010 3:33PM
posted August 10th 2010 3:33PM
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why is "banks" in the Tags?
@mrspiteri
Because we are talking about main consumer in Saudi Arabia...
OIL
@mrspiteri
Because Saudi Arabia just got a RIM job.
@rhimbu. Actually it's more like RIM just got Saudied
@mrspiteri Which has more political clout: Canada threatening to withhold Blackberries or Saudi Arabia threatening to withhold oil?
@NikAmi
Well, the latter has more far-reaching impacts, so I'll go with it.
I think this is just a beginning...
next, all the countries worldwide...
RIM... good luck with that...
what are the chances that given these encryption codes they'll be able to listen in on traffic outside of the country as well?
@milkham
that's exactly what I was wondering. Think of these codes in the wrong hands...
and u think america is the right hands DUH!!!
@bbob brizzy brett
Why does assume they are the wrong hands? Who are the "right" hands in your opinion? And why?
They don't even let their woman drive or get an education besides teaching and nursing.
@Juggernaut408 Who told you they don't get education except in teaching or nursing? you ignorant idiot.
@ferasu LOL I take it you're from there............
@Juggernaut408 Go to any arab country and see for urself(Except country that is in war rite now.Eg, Palestine)..They should keep their women in the house,cause they are in WAR..
Rite now im studying medicine in Egypt..Got lots of Arab friends..Most of them are friendly..Working girls have their own car..They can drive anytime they want..No problem at all.. FYI,Arab girls are quite educated,and hardworking too..Open ur mind..
Really wish america hadn't set this precedent...
@R2 D2
It's Middle Eastern extortion at it's best. They'll be powerless once they run out of oil though...
@bravokiloromeo Humans will self terminate, via war, before the oil runs out.
Thank god Americans have a right to privacy!
just kidding!
USA USA USA USA
@leemahi
Last time I checked, Saudi Arabia is not the USA. Don't blame the US for how other countries do business with US companies. Do you expect a full trial if you commit a crime on your trip to China?
@Shadow08
RIM isn't a US company, they be from Canada eh!
@leemahi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_PATRIOT_Act
:)
@bbob brizzy brett
Thanks captain obvious.
@Shadow08
nor in USA, no trial for years if you are arab and look like the driver of some guy in middle east
"Saudi Arabia pleased by RIM's concession, says BlackBerry messaging can stay for now..."
Translation?
"Saudi Arabia pleased that RIM bent over, says it's will get a notification via BBM later..."
But this is totally meaningless. Let's say i am a terrorist, if i know that Government is reading BB's i will not do any planning on it, but will do it in person. And on the day of the attack i'll say, let's meet at 11 AM and have the main meal at 12:00 sharp.
People can easily do what they do without BBs or technology, ask Taliban.
@Sea Urchin Government might like to know who do you text, even if they do not know what the text means. Its not like they need to prove anything over there.
@Sea Urchin
All this bull crap started because of the rumor-spreading acts.
Let me put it for you clear, in the gulf region, there is no way that any of the countries like KSA or UAE would block a service this fast and this efficient unless a member of the ruling family was in danger.
This whole move started because of the many rumors people keep spreading and the fake identities people hold through the BB, and all what these governments want is to be able to track these rumors down to its source.
As you said Sea Urchin, if a terrorist organization knows that their BBs are being monitored then no one of them will be using anytime soon, especially not after all the world wide announcements these countries have done. Terrorists will always find a way to have their own private servers that bypass the telecos monitoring.
@Sea Urchin
Did you know: now Taliban can set up an ENTIRE GSM NETWORK on their own.
see http://openbts.sourceforge.net/
What a sad day for privacy. Yes, the US isn't perfect, but these concessions are just over the line, and setting a dangerous precedent.
@Madcat http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_PATRIOT_Act
@ferasu Christ, how much longer do we have to get that thrown in our faces. Yes, the patriot act is pretty crappy bit of legislation. No, most people here aren't all to happy about it. But you have to put it into context, it came at a time when people were incredibly frightened. A bunch of assholes had just hijacked a few planes (loaded with regular people) and drove them into a couple of prominent buildings (also loaded with regular people) in the middle of pretty famous city. I'm justifying it, I just felt it needed the proper perspective.
Good luck, Neville. . . I mean, RIM Chamberlain
That's because most men are pleased after a good blowjob. How did that victory dick taste, RIM?
@alnandr
Quite good.
As if the U.S. is NOT monitoring the BB traffic. One has to see through the hypocrisy.
@magadget
What hypocrisy? RIM is a Canadian company and SA isn't the USA.
They want to monitor for people who want to have sex. Not joking.
What a F'd up place. The Middle East is 100X worse than China. At least the Chinese are rational.
@NoobsRUs Since when?
@NoobsRUs
Idiot...
@mform112 Yea, YOU are the idiot. Learn to understand world events before you open your big mouth.
http://blogs.forbes.com/michaelnoer/2010/08/06/is-saudi-blackberry-messenger-ban-really-about-blocking-flirting/
RIM's Lazaridis: if goverments can't deal with the internet, 'they should shut it off'
OR you can shut your mouth now :P
@UAEmirates
RIM is f'd now imho...if this is true then they just capitulated their only reason for being...
@UAEmirates
Governments trying to shut down access to the net in their country may find it a bit more difficult then just making a law against it. Between satellite based internet access and non centralized networks such as peer to peer and so on, they might find they have a bit of a fight on their hands, technically speaking. But to be honest, I think this has more to do with daily monitoring what the average Joe is up to rather then the average terrorist. Anyone doing something illegal is going to take steps to mitigate the fact that he/she is being monitored by society in general and if he were to use a BB it would be in a code. Where as the average Abdul isn't going to worry too much about it.
@tdhelder
"If you aren't doing anything harmful, you'll be safe and ok"
as every dictator says, while arresting so-called communists.
Sounds like BB'ers went from being rimmed to being screwed.
But if you don't want people to know your business, don't use the net. You know that ALL governments are monitoring the internet and ALL companies are doing much the same, if they can. So class repeat after me. THERE IS NO PRIVACY ON THE INTERNET. And we won't even start on your Super Saver Cards for your local drug store, ever read the attached "you ain't got no privacy policy?"
For now? Well thats just another way to point out the lack of lubrication in this ass rapeage going on. MAN UP RIM!
Why are people getting upset? The US ALREADY has access to BBM.
Let's hope this 'truce' can be maintained until the release of RIM's tablet/BlackPad... It looks like it'll be another month or so: http://www.gottabemobile.com/wp-content/uploads/BlackBerryBlackPadMock.jpg