Dubai: BlackBerry users in the UAE rank the device very highly as a tool for business, according to a consumer insight survey conducted by market research agency, the Nielsen Company.
The survey was conducted after the UAE announced that it would ban some BlackBerry services from October, after a disagreement with its Canadian manufacturer, Research In Motion (RIM), over national security concerns.
Exclusive to Gulf News, the results showed that 43 per cent of the users thought the BlackBerry is an "extremely important" tool for a business, while another 28 per cent said it was "very important." Only 19 per cent said that it was not necessary as a business tool.
A favourite among company CEOs and government representative, including American President Barack Obama, the BlackBerry has come under pressure for a feature which is also its main selling point — security.
Encryption key
RIM has said BlackBerry security is based on a system in which the users create their own key and the company neither has a master key nor any "back door" to allow it or any third party to gain access to data. However, governments and their security agencies insist on getting their hands on the encryption key that could allow them access to user data.
One hundred BlackBerry users of various nationalities, ages and both genders, representing up to 500,000 BlackBerry owners in the UAE, were surveyed.
"BlackBerry Messenger service is the most often used feature in the phone, and arguably its most popular feature, given its utility and convenience.
"The device's messaging strengths that are derived from this ‘always-on' instant messaging service appear to be a key defining feature that has set it apart from the competition and increased its appeal," said Vishal Bali, executive director for emerging markets at Nielsen Telecom Practice Group.
Forty-nine per cent of users said the Messenger was the most used service in the device, while 26 said it was BlackBerry Enterprise Server or office email.
"It is therefore highly likely that in case of a ban on this service, current users of BlackBerry are going to have to move to other devices. It is also likely to have an impact on BlackBerry's appeal among potential buyers/adopters," he added.
Retailers interviewed during the survey said they are already seeing decreasing interest in the device from shoppers.
However, sales numbers have shown mixed results with some retailers seeing no impact, and others reporting a drastic drop in purchases.
Meanwhile, a switch to alternative tools is not deemed easy by users, a push that is being driven by operators in the UAE.
The majority of those questioned, at 52 per cent, said it would not be easy to move to alternative devices that serve similar purpose. About 30 per cent said it would not be a problem to make the shift.
Oman rebukes report
Oman's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has disowned recent reports appearing in a section of the international media purporting that the regulator had "no plans to suspend" BlackBerry services in the country.
In its first ever comment on the BlackBerry issue, released on Tuesday evening, the regulator denied issuing any statement suggesting it had "no plans to suspend Blackberry services including Messenger, email, and web browsing in Oman".
A statement attributed to the TRA was carried by some local and international wire services and newspapers. Reuters reported Monday that "Oman has no plans to block BlackBerry services", referring to what it said was a TRA statement published by Oman's state news agency ONA. Offering the services was part of its "philosophy of free market in the sector," Reuters quoted the TRA as saying.
"Oman Telecommunications Regulatory Authority would like to bring to the attention of the beneficiaries of the telecommunications services in the country that should there be a change in the current status, TRA Oman would issue an appropriate statement to the media," the regulator said on Tuesday.
— Staff Report
