As the long-running censorship dispute between Beijing and Google Inc was resolved recently, it is now Research In Motion Ltd. that got in conflict with U.A.E. security issues. According to the statement issued by the U.A.E.’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, BlackBerry smartphone is open to misuse that poses security risks to the country and that it would seek to safeguard its consumers and laws.
It was revealed last year by Research in Motion (RIM) that a software update from UAE telecoms firm Etisalat was actually surveillance software designed to let Etisalat capture, read and store the e-mails of targeted customers. While BlackBerrys are popular among bankers and businessmen in the UAE, restricting or monitoring BlackBerry mobile phones could mean a serious dent on RIMs global smartphone market.