RIM yet to resolve security issues with India

Although Research in Motion (RIM), which operates the BlackBerry phone and e-mail services worldwide, had promised to look into India's security concerns and help resolve them, there is no agreement yet, sources in India said. Talks are likely to continue between the Indian Telecommunications Ministry and Canada-based RIM to settle the issue. India has been concerned after the 26/11 terror attacks in its commercial capital of Mumbai in 2008 over the misuse of e-mail, telephone and SMS connectivity between terrorists in India and abroad, particularly as the Indian intelligence agencies have no means till now to monitor BlackBerry services even if they know a terrorist's number. A senior Indian official told Wam that India's concerns were the same as that of any other country. India is set to hold the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October, and various intelligence organisations have asked the Indian Home Ministry to ensure adequate surveillance and monitoring capabilities. The Home Ministry in turn has asked the Telecommunications Ministry and telecom regulatory bodies to resolve the issues with RIM and any other e-mail and tele-services provider. India wants RIM to set up servers in India and allow the authorities there to intercept any required communication.