Two Gulf states to ban some Blackberry functions

Two Gulf states have announced bans on some functions of the Blackberry mobile phone, claiming security concerns. The BBC reports.

The United Arab Emirates is to block sending emails, accessing the internet, and delivering instant messages to other Blackberry handsets.

Saudi Arabia is to prevent the use of the Blackberry to Blackberry instant messaging service.

Both nations are unhappy that they are unable to monitor such communications via the handsets.

This is because the Blackberry handsets automatically send the encrypted data to computer servers outside of the two countries.

There are an estimated 500,000 Blackberry users in the UAE, and 400,000 in Saudi Arabia.

Related:

-- BlackBerry deemed a security threat by UAE

-- The US Air Force's Blackberry Crackdown

-- Saudi Arabia to regulated Blackberry Messenger for "Security"

-- Belgium ministers requested not to use Blackberry's to exchange confidential information

-- Obama's blackberry brings personal safety risks

emily | 8:08 AM | News, Buzz |
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