Business | Telecoms
Companies await BlackBerry outcome
Businesses hoping a solution will be reached with respect to data services before deadline
- By Kevin Scott, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 October 5, 2010
- Image Credit: Francois Nel, Gulf News
- A ban on BlackBerry's, e-mail, web surfing and instant messenger functions will be implemented on October 11 unless UAE authorities can reach an agreement with the device's Canadian manufacturer Research In Motion.
Dubai: Companies in the UAE remain optimistic that a proposed ban on BlackBerry data services will be reversed before next week's deadline.
Thousands of professionals across the country rely on the device to conduct business on a daily basis.
However, a ban on BlackBerry's, e-mail, web surfing and instant messenger functions will be implemented on October 11 unless UAE authorities can reach an agreement with the device's Canadian manufacturer Research In Motion.
Vishal Bali, Executive Director of Emerging Markets at Nielsen Telecom Practice Group, said: "A quick survey we conducted revealed that more than two-thirds of users with company-owned BlackBerry devices claimed the suspension has been discussed internally within their company and nearly half indicated the organisations they worked at felt it will not be easy to work out an alternative solution.
"The indications are they have been deliberating to discuss various contingency plans that can be put into place in case the ban goes into effect. It is particularly the larger companies that have taken this matter seriously given their perception of an anticipated impact such a ban — if upheld — may have on their operations and IT infrastructure."
Biju Jayaraaj, Chief Executive Officer of Artaaj, an event management agency, said the company's office would "come to a complete standstill" if the ban comes into effect next week.
He said: "We are really hoping the authorities can reach an agreement on the BlackBerry issue. We have a small staff of approximately 40 people with around 50 per cent of them using BlackBerrys on a regular basis. It would be a huge problem for our company if the ban was implemented. We hope the UAE, like India and Saudi Arabia, can reach a solution at the last minute and the ban can be averted.
"The great thing about BlackBerry is that all of our staff is kept in the loop about what is happening. Business is rarely delayed because you don't have to keep checking that everyone is on the same page; let's keep our fingers crossed and hope there is a solution."
A ban on certain BlackBerry services in India was delayed for at least two months after Research In Motion offered to support the country's need for "lawful access" to encrypted services. Many residents remain hopeful that a similar agreement can be reached in the UAE before next week's deadline.
Dina Al Naib, Account Executive at Active Public Relations and Marketing Communications Consultancy, said: "The BlackBerry ban is going to be a major change for most Active PR team members."
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