BlackBerry Challenges May Spread as Governments, RIM Collide

Business people on the go, in need of instant contact and information, appreciate mobile devices and can’t imagine doing without smartphones like the BlackBerry. A major feature of the BlackBerry includes high-level security around communications, with encrypted messages and delivery through protected equipment in Canada and maker Research in Motion. “However, the system also makes it harder for governments to monitor BlackBerry communications than messages from other smartphones, which typically travel across the Internet,” notes this article from Bloomberg.com. “That has made RIM’s devices an issue for countries concerned mobile e-mail or messaging could be used to coordinate a terrorist attack or bring down a government.” Governments increasingly pursue control over security, with some expressing concern about the general public having access to highly encrypted messages. Businesses long for security as much as governments do. – YaleGlobal