BlackBerry users in Saudi Arabia were left guessing for a second time in a week on Tuesday after a deadline to address security concerns about encryption lapsed, but service continued normally.
Political activists in Gulf states where the maker of BlackBerry faces possible bans say its messaging service boosted their ranks, and they are now on the hunt for new ways to evade authorities.
Saudi Arabia told the kingdom's telecom operators on Saturday to test a proposed fix to the perceived national security threat posed by Research In Motion's BlackBerry smartphones, and said it would not ban service if the test was successful.
BlackBerry maker and Saudi mobile firms are testing three servers to send communications and data through Saudi Arabia before Canada to address Riyadh's concerns over security, a Saudi official said on Sunday.
Kuwait has no intention of stopping BlackBerry services for the time being but is talking to the device's manufacturer about moral and security concerns, the communications minister said on Sunday.
The makers of the BlackBerry were looking into the possibility of using servers in Saudi Arabia on Friday to avert a threatened ban on its Messenger services by Saudi government, which wants access to its encrypted network, a source said on Friday.
A Saudi threat to cut off Blackberry Messenger services did not take immediate hold on Friday as users in Saudi Arabia were still able to access the service.
Lebanon will assess security concerns relating to the use of BlackBerry phones, the telecom regulator said on Thursday, making it the latest country to raise worries over the smartphone devices.
LOS ANGELES - No BlackBerry service!
Research in Motion is at odds with the governments of India, Saudi Arabia and the UAE over their demands that the company let authorities tap BlackBerry messages delivered using RIM's rock-solid encryption technology.
The BlackBerry -- renown for the security of its messaging -- doesn't offer 100 percent protection from eavesdropping. At least not in the United States.
Kuwait has asked BlackBerry maker Research in Motion to block pornographic sites though will not suspend services like other Gulf states have threatened to do, a local newspaper reported Tuesday.
The United States said it was disappointed that the United Arab Emirates planned to cut off key BlackBerry services, noting that the Gulf nation was setting a dangerous precedent in limiting freedom of information.
U.S.-listed shares of Research in Motion fell 2.4 percent on Monday after the United Arab Emirates threatened to suspend services for its BlackBerry smartphone users due to security concerns.
More than a million BlackBerry users may have key services in Saudi Arabia and the UAE cut off after authorities stepped up demands on smartphone maker Research In Motion for access to encrypted messages sent over the device.
Stock index futures pointed to a higher open for Wall Street on Monday, with the S&P 500 futures up 1.1 percent, Nasdaq futures 0.8 percent higher, and futures for the Dow Jones industrial average up 1 percent by 4:38 a.m. ET.
More than a million BlackBerry users may have key services in Saudi Arabia and the UAE cut off after authorities stepped up demands on smartphone maker Research In Motion for access to encrypted messages sent over the device.
More than a million BlackBerry users may have key services in Saudi Arabia and the UAE cut off after authorities stepped up demands on smartphone maker Research In Motion for access to encrypted messages sent over the device.
Over a million BlackBerry users face being cut off from key services in Saudi Arabia and the UAE after authorities stepped up demands on maker Research In Motion for access to encrypted messages sent on the smartphone.
BlackBerry maker Research In Motion was hit with its first major ban on Sunday after the United Arab Emirates, citing security risks, said BlackBerry services would be barred in October.
World Gold Council said jewellery purchases in world's largest gold consumer, India rocketed by 291 per cent to 147.5 tonnes in the first quarter.
In its report named Gold Investment Digest, the WGC also said India's total consumer demand surged 698 per cent to 193.5 tonnes.
The BlackBerry, made by Canada's Research In Motion , is open to misuse that poses security risks to the United Arab Emirates, which said on Sunday it would seek to safeguard its consumers and laws.
