RIM re-confirms stand over Blackberry encryption data sharing

Research in Motion (RIM), the $20 billion company, and makers of the iconic Blackberry phones, on Tuesday reiterated their stand that the issue of security concerns over encryption data is an industry problem and needs a larger solution.

“We have had discussion with the government, and it is our belief that this is a larger industry issue. We are now awaiting the final word on the telecom policy, and in the interim services will continue as they were,” said Sunil Lalvani, director, enterprise sales, India.

Earlier this year, the government had threatened to shut down RIM’s BB services citing issues of security while arguing that it needed access to the company’s encryption data.

The company, which according to data by the International Data Corporation (IDC), controls 15 per cent of the smartphone market in India, said that India falls in the emerging market category which grew at 62 per cent last year.

“That India is a priority market for us is established by the fact that we have decided to launch handsets in India with a week of its international release. Also, the new Blackberry phones will work on the OS-7 platform,” Lalvani said.

According to Lalvani, the company which has cornered a chunk of the smartphone segment aimed at the youth and enterprise, will focus on the smaller towns in a bid to increase market share.

The company, which has introduced NFC technology aided tags in recently said, that the large scale introduction of fiscal integration services on the mobile phones will have to await regulatory update and the creation of a larger ecosystem.