UAE, BlackBerry resolve dispute, averting ban

15:19, 8 October 2010

DUBAI. October 8. KAZINFORM The United Arab Emirates backed off a threat to cut key services on BlackBerry smart phones Friday, just days before the ban was set to take effect; Kazinform refers to China Daily.

The Gulf federation, home to the region's business hub and largest airport in Dubai, was planning to shut off BlackBerry messaging, e-mail and Web browsing services Monday.

Half a million local users and travelers with foreign BlackBerrys would have been affected.

The Emirates telecommunications regulator confirmed that a deal had been reached with device maker Research in Motion Ltd that brought the devices into compliance with local laws.

"All Blackberry services in the UAE will continue to operate as normal and no suspension of service will occur" as planned Monday, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority said in a statement carried by state news agency WAM.

It wasn't clear what concessions, if any, the Canadian device maker made to avert the ban; Kazinform cites China Daily.

See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full version

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