UAE regulator to suspend BlackBerry services from October 11
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UAE regulator to suspend BlackBerry services from October 11
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Says it all for those of you contemplating coming to the UAE.
After their spying scam/upgrade patch was exposed they've obviously been out smarted by the Canadians and have now got the s%$ts and thrown their toys out of the pram...how childish and backward they are..
After their spying scam/upgrade patch was exposed they've obviously been out smarted by the Canadians and have now got the s%$ts and thrown their toys out of the pram...how childish and backward they are..
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What will the users get for AED295 per month now???? no data, no messages, no emails. Sounds like all those office workers will have to get something else to stare at all day long now
Would it be possible to get a Blackberry contract from outside UAE to work here, say from Virgin, Orange, Vodacom???
On CNN and BBC too:
Dubai, United Arab Emirates(CNN) -- The United Arab Emirates will suspend some BlackBerry services starting October 11 over security concerns.
The move comes after officials put the BlackBerry under review as a potential national security threat. Telecom officials said data from the devices are exported offshore beyond its jurisdiction.
Etisalat, a UAE-based telecommunications services provider, said it was notified of the suspension Sunday.
Telecom officials will suspend BlackBerry services providing email, web browsing, instant messaging and social networking, according to Etisalat.
Authorities said the suspension will remain until an "acceptable solution can be developed and applied which brings the BlackBerry services in line with the UAE's telecommunications regulations."
The BlackBerry was introduced in the UAE in 2006, one year before the introduction of new national security legislation.
BlackBerry was not immediately available for comment.
Would it be possible to get a Blackberry contract from outside UAE to work here, say from Virgin, Orange, Vodacom???
On CNN and BBC too:
Dubai, United Arab Emirates(CNN) -- The United Arab Emirates will suspend some BlackBerry services starting October 11 over security concerns.
The move comes after officials put the BlackBerry under review as a potential national security threat. Telecom officials said data from the devices are exported offshore beyond its jurisdiction.
Etisalat, a UAE-based telecommunications services provider, said it was notified of the suspension Sunday.
Telecom officials will suspend BlackBerry services providing email, web browsing, instant messaging and social networking, according to Etisalat.
Authorities said the suspension will remain until an "acceptable solution can be developed and applied which brings the BlackBerry services in line with the UAE's telecommunications regulations."
The BlackBerry was introduced in the UAE in 2006, one year before the introduction of new national security legislation.
BlackBerry was not immediately available for comment.
Last edited by Jetjock330; 1st Aug 2010 at 10:52.
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Why Wait
So if it "allow users to act without any legal accountability, causing judicial, social and national security concerns for the UAE" why are they waiting until Oct 11th? 
Another big scoop added to the sh%$ bucket. Soon be overflowing and time to go.
Another big scoop added to the sh%$ bucket. Soon be overflowing and time to go.
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India is also looking at banning Blackberry. If Blackberry dont do something soon this could snowball and wipe them out from a lot of the worlds markets.
Considering that the US and UK have very similar rules (with regards to email and message monitoring) as the UAE (and I suppose India) and that Blackberry have come to a deal with them, you have to wonder why after 3 years of discussion that havn't managed anything with governments in other parts of the world.
Considering that the US and UK have very similar rules (with regards to email and message monitoring) as the UAE (and I suppose India) and that Blackberry have come to a deal with them, you have to wonder why after 3 years of discussion that havn't managed anything with governments in other parts of the world.
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To those who are not familiar with life in the UAE (and the middle east in general) This latest stint brings everything in line with their policy of big brother spying on you. Every telephone call you make, every mobile phone call or txt message you make or every email you send over the network here in the UAE : it's all being monitored. We also know that the 90% hard working expats cannot be trusted.....
RIP BBerry. Amen.
On second thought: I think they will bite the dust (again). Everyone I know (incl ooh soo many locals) with a reasonable good job here in Dubai use BB......
Another mega P.R. disaster if you ask me.....
RIP BBerry. Amen.
On second thought: I think they will bite the dust (again). Everyone I know (incl ooh soo many locals) with a reasonable good job here in Dubai use BB......
Another mega P.R. disaster if you ask me.....
Last edited by 5star; 1st Aug 2010 at 09:50. Reason: typo
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Of course we know that nothing is safe out here , we live in a paranoid society , a low self -esteem society , an historically suspicious , xenephobic people , who cannot live up to the 'morally' superior ideals that they think they aspire to themselves. It is down to the fact that cannot 'grow up ' and trust ANYBODY because they do not trust their own instincts. I have never had the experience before of working for people who behave so immaturely.Its a long story personal wise , but I left my boarding school in 1968 , and have spent 40 years dealing with adults , and then I came here .
I thought my 2nd chidhood was supposed to kick in as I became gaga , but no , I have ended up working for a bunch of muppets who have taken me back to school days ,bullying etc , and not having the guts to turn up behind the bike sheds to sort it out .Pathetic .
Not long now , I shall rearrange my deckchair on the Titanic and take to the lifeboat , while the muppets say 'Iceberg , what Iceberg ? '
Anyway , back to the subject , I was very naive but now know that they ARE monitoring every call/email etc - AIR PARANOID. Tossers.
I thought my 2nd chidhood was supposed to kick in as I became gaga , but no , I have ended up working for a bunch of muppets who have taken me back to school days ,bullying etc , and not having the guts to turn up behind the bike sheds to sort it out .Pathetic .
Not long now , I shall rearrange my deckchair on the Titanic and take to the lifeboat , while the muppets say 'Iceberg , what Iceberg ? '
Anyway , back to the subject , I was very naive but now know that they ARE monitoring every call/email etc - AIR PARANOID. Tossers.
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Return your BB to Etislad due to breach of contract
What alternative to returning the phone, as it has no benefit over the normal Etisalad service.
Am I right in thinking that the ban is on all providers of BB, and not just Etisalad.???? worldwide..????
glf
Am I right in thinking that the ban is on all providers of BB, and not just Etisalad.???? worldwide..????
glf
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I dont think so - if you have an account with a provider in the UK or US I believe your BB will still work. I know some people are trying to find a dual-sim option that allows them to use data services from overseas.
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it's spreading...
(Zawya Dow Jones)--Saudi Arabia's telecom watchdog has ordered telecom firms operating in the kingdom to stop BlackBerry messenger services later this month, am official said Sunday, hours after regulators in the United Arab Emirates said they would prohibit some BlackBerry services from October.
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Of course we know that nothing is safe out here , we live in a paranoid society , a low self -esteem society , an historically suspicious , xenephobic people , who cannot live up to the 'morally' superior ideals that they think they aspire to themselves. It is down to the fact that cannot 'grow up ' and trust ANYBODY because they do not trust their own instincts. I have never had the experience before of working for people who behave so immaturely.Its a long story personal wise , but I left my boarding school in 1968 , and have spent 40 years dealing with adults , and then I came here .
I thought my 2nd chidhood was supposed to kick in as I became gaga , but no , I have ended up working for a bunch of muppets who have taken me back to school days ,bullying etc , and not having the guts to turn up behind the bike sheds to sort it out .Pathetic .
Not long now , I shall rearrange my deckchair on the Titanic and take to the lifeboat , while the muppets say 'Iceberg , what Iceberg ? '
Anyway , back to the subject , I was very naive but now know that they ARE monitoring every call/email etc - AIR PARANOID. Tossers.
I thought my 2nd chidhood was supposed to kick in as I became gaga , but no , I have ended up working for a bunch of muppets who have taken me back to school days ,bullying etc , and not having the guts to turn up behind the bike sheds to sort it out .Pathetic .
Not long now , I shall rearrange my deckchair on the Titanic and take to the lifeboat , while the muppets say 'Iceberg , what Iceberg ? '
Anyway , back to the subject , I was very naive but now know that they ARE monitoring every call/email etc - AIR PARANOID. Tossers.
This is what happens when 21st century technology meets 6th century mindsets. Geez I'd have a least a shred of respect for them if they at least admitted they just want to spy on everyone, and not try and use the laughable excuse of "national security". The Canadians would help track down a credible terrorist threat, but they're not so much interested in helping the local yokels track down who's sending naughty sex-texts to whom. Here's hoping RIM (BB parent company) say a nice big "F YOU" to the UAE.
There are plenty of alternatives to keep your comms secure, takes a little more effort and not quite as convenient or portable as as BB. But there is military-grade encryption available to the public for email and voice comms. Of course I will not elaborate on a forum. But with a little effort there is no need to have these little freaks eavesdropping.
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Sadly in this part of the world it is all about control. Control,control,control.
The authorities and the majority of the population, know no other way. Hence internet censorship the banning of VOIP and numerous other useful things.
Advice to BB owners, sit tight, The whole thing will blow over when the commercial consequences are realized or failing that a work-around will be widely available if you know where to look for it.
That said immature, juvenile muppets does somewhat sum up the mentality in the M.E.
The authorities and the majority of the population, know no other way. Hence internet censorship the banning of VOIP and numerous other useful things.
Advice to BB owners, sit tight, The whole thing will blow over when the commercial consequences are realized or failing that a work-around will be widely available if you know where to look for it.
That said immature, juvenile muppets does somewhat sum up the mentality in the M.E.
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If the Government in the US can access Blackberry messages when it wants I dont think that telling other governments around the globe that they cant is really sustainable in the long term.
Given the alternatives for secure communications that governments cannot readily access I really cannot see why RIM are so adamant about not allowing the same sort of access to their system as every other manufacturer.
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At least the GCC gummits are up-front about it so one has a choice. The US does it and doesn't tell the newspapers...so much for the First Amendment! Which is worse?
By the way, I can't wait to get out of here!!!
I also am curious about the Super-Duper UAE ID cards we had to get last year. When do they start being the "Smart Cards" that were promised to eliminate the multiple documents and I can use it to pay my Etisilat bill, use as a visa, car registration, driver"s license etc? Mine remains as useless as a football bat but yet another Government agency has my biometrics. when do I win?
I thought so.....
By the way, I can't wait to get out of here!!!
I also am curious about the Super-Duper UAE ID cards we had to get last year. When do they start being the "Smart Cards" that were promised to eliminate the multiple documents and I can use it to pay my Etisilat bill, use as a visa, car registration, driver"s license etc? Mine remains as useless as a football bat but yet another Government agency has my biometrics. when do I win?
I thought so.....
Last edited by 2000GT; 2nd Aug 2010 at 06:32.