For many users of the BlackBerry phones, it was a perfect Friday morning with the announcement that popular services they were so hooked on to, would continue as normal.
The announcement made by UAE’s Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) that the services would continue, has come as a welcome weekend bonus t users who were wondering what to do with the handsets if no solution was found by October 11.
"This is great news. We are indeed delighted to hear this as we are so used to BlackBerry services that it ahd become a part of our life. I even get up at night to open my BlackBerry and check e-mails. We are indeed grateful to the authorities for lifting the ban," said Kamal Vachani, Director of Al Maya Group and Regional Director of Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) of India.
Security concerns had forced TRA to seek access to the BlackBerry content, which its manufacturers Research In Motion (RIM) refused to part with.
Jaikumar Pillai, General Manager, Hybrid Imaging Products LLC, from the Al Abbas Group said the sales of BlackBerry has been at an all-time low during last two months as most customers skipped the product due to the ban news. “If the ban is removed sales will start picking up again and traders will be able to offload the huge backlog that they have accumulated over last two months due to poor sales. Gitex Shopper is an occasion for trader and consumers to buy these products and the special offers will be added advantage.” Pillai, a BlackBerry user said the device has been helpful to many senior managers and businessman to be in touch with their office 24 hours even while travelling.
“Using BlackBerry we can check our emails and take prompt action. In the absence of such a facility, we have to go back to the office, or a business center to do check emails. It saves a lot of time.” Customers have been fascinated with the device for the services it provided,” he added.
“For Blackberry services, there is no competitors throughout the world. A total ban would have adversely affected our business here. It is a good decision by the TRA, Etisalat and Du. Blackberry additional services like instant chatting, email checking and other facilities which are not available in any other services. Charting and global business news, international currency rates, market charts etc are coming live. These timely data help take crucial decisions,” said Sajith Kumar PK CEO JRG International Brokerage LLC.
“It is great news, I am very much attached to the BB service," said KV Shamsudeen, Director, Barjeel Geojith Securities. "When I am in Baharain or other GCC countries on business trips, I feel handicapped when the service is not available even for a short while. I hope it is a permanent decision and there will not be any uncertainty on BlackBerry services in the UAE.”
“Whatever it is, I’m very glad that the anxiety is now over and I can continue using my BlackBerry,” said Dominic Andrews who lives in Dubai. “Gotten used to this, I can’t easily switch to another handset,” he said.
“Yes, this is going to be a great weekend,” said Geeta Iyer who has been using the gadget ever since her husband gifted her one for her birthday last year. “I was quite worried about not being able to use it since I am emotionally attached to it.”
For a salesman like Mathew George Pulickal, the announcement has come as a major relief. “I use my BlackBerry for more than personal use. In fact, all my sales contacts are in it and I was so used to it.”
He, like many others, was waiting for a decision either way when he got the surprise news on his BlackBerry. “A friend had sent me a message this morning about the decision.”
Marie Joyce finds it good news for more than one reason. “Of course, I can continue to use my BlackBerry. But what’s more important is I don’t have to spend money to buy another handset.”
“Some of my friends had in fact changed their handsets without even waiting for the October 11 deadline. I am happy that it has been finally resolved,” said Abdul Rahman.
Ronald John says he had always believed that the services would not be cancelled. “In fact a friend of mine who is in the know of things as far as the negotiations between the TRA and RIM is concerned had told me that the service would not be cancelled and we could expect a decision a day or two before the deadline,” said John.
However Nisha Samuel a Blackberry subscriber through Etisalat said she cancelled the service and also gave away the handset. “I thought it best to use a ordinary handset. I gave away my blackberry mobile to my relative in India,” said Samuel.
(With inputs from VM Sathish and Joseph George)