The Indian government has announced that BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) services will continue to be available, in a public release from the Ministry of Home Affairs, found below:
Following continuing discussion of M/S RIM with Government of India on the issue of providing access for lawful interception, RIM has set up an interim arrangement for lawful interception of BBM services. RIM has assured the Government of India that they will provide the final solution for the lawful interception of BBM services by 31.01.2011. Accordingly, the BBM services will continue to be available.
[RELATED_ARTICLE]The Indian government’s talks with RIM have reached an interim agreement, which will allow the Canadian phone manufacturer to continue to provide its BlackBerry Messenger services in the country. This agreement gives the government access to data sent over the BlackBerry network, using an undisclosed method. A final solution however has been promised by RIM, due by January 31st, 2011. We assume this would encompass RIM’s other services, such as BlackBerry Internet Service and Corporate Email Service.
The move mirrors a similar back and forth between RIM and the government of the UAE, who recently reached an agreement in October after RIM offered a solution acceptable in the country’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.