RIYADH/JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, (Reuters) – Research In Motion <RIM.TO> has agreed to hand over user codes that would let Saudi authorities monitor its BlackBerry Messenger, as it seeks to stop the kingdom from silencing the service, a source close to the talks said yesterday.
The source said RIM would share with Saudi Arabia the unique pin number and code for each BlackBerry registered there. That will allow authorities to read encrypted text sent via Messenger, an instant messaging service that’s distinct from email sent on the BlackBerry.
The arrangement would effectively give Saudi Arabia access to RIM’s main server for Messenger, but only for communications to and from Saudi users, the source said..
The Canadian company declined to comment, referring media to its earlier statement in which it said it “cooperates with all governments with a consistent standard.”
“I would imagine other countries are going to want to be treated in a similar way, whatever that way happens to be,” said Todd Coupland at CIBC World Markets in Toronto, referring to a Saudi code sharing deal for Messenger.
Saudi Arabia, like United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, India and some other countries, has sought access to encrypted BlackBerry communications, citing social and national security concerns.
BlackBerry Messenger has proven popular with young singles in Saudi Arabia, an Islamic society that restricts contact between unrelated men and women. The country is the biggest BlackBerry market in the Gulf with 700,000 users.
Social and political activists also say BlackBerry’s encrypted texting has brought more open dialogue, including criticism of governments and policies.
This use of the BlackBerry contrasts with the situation in Western countries, where the device is specially popular among business and government professionals that value its security. Email is encrypted and decrypted by BlackBerry Enterprise Servers, which RIM says are only controlled by the sponsoring business or organization.
RIM, unlike rivals Nokia <NOK1V.HE> and Apple <AAPL.O>, operates its own network through secure servers located in Canada and other countries such as Britain.
One analyst said RIM might give ground on servers for Messenger, but the company was unlikely to budge on the security of email sent through these Enterprise servers.
PROGRESS REPORTED
The Saudi telecom regulator said earlier it was making progress in its talks with RIM, and that the Messenger service was still up and running. It did not say what, if any, arrangement had been made with RIM.
