Dubai: Security experts in the UAE are still puzzled over Sunday's TRA press release claiming BlackBerry's messenger service is a threat to "social, judicial and national security".

The TRA's statement also said that "BlackBerry ... is the only device operating in the UAE that immediately exports its data offshore and is managed by a foreign, commercial organisation."

Rik Ferguson, a security expert for TrendMicro, one of the world's largest computer security companies, said that a number of other mobile devices including the Apple iPhone and Google's Android mobile operating system, both of which are widely used in the UAE, had applications and services that ran on networks similar to that used by Research in Motion, which makes the BlackBerry handset.

"It seems strangely specific," he said.

Ferguson also pointed out that BlackBerry's services were primarily used by businessmen.

"It's very odd that they would focus on one device, especially one that focuses on enterprise usage," he said. Ferguson, who is based in the UK, said he had not heard of any complaints about BlackBerry's service when it came to national security.

Neil Batstone, a business development manager for Verizon in Dubai, also said he had not heard of any previous complaints about BlackBerry's services, but said businesses who offered such services need to protect their user's privacy.

"Clearly, organisations have a duty to protect business information and employee's data," he said.

Batstone also said he recognised the difficulties law enforcement agencies faced when working with foreign-based companies, a growing trend thanks to the internet.

He added that companies also had a duty to adhere to local laws, but he said it was a balancing act.

Untraceable

Ferguson, recognising the needs of police and other agencies to fight crime, said that most criminals looking to avoid detection were extremely apt at hiding their tracks. "They're pretty much untraceable," he said.

Ferguson said that law enforcement needed to find new ways to overcome the growing technical issues the internet posed.

"It's going to make forensic investigation much more difficult," he said.

Research in Motion declined to comment.