RIM solution for message, internet; says no to enterprise mail

New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) BlackBerry today said it hasprovided a solution for legally intercepting messenger andinternet services, but denied such access on BlackBerryEnterprise Server, saying the company has "no ability toprovide its customers'' encryption key."

"The company has now delivered a solution that enablesIndia''s wireless carriers to address their lawful accessrequirements for our consumer messaging services, whichincludes BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) and BlackBerry InternetServices (BIS) e-mail," BlackBerry maker Research-in-Motionsaid in a statement.

However, the enablement of lawful access does not extendto BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES), which is essentially anVirtual Private Network (VPN) solution.

"As we have stated on several occasions and as we haveset our company''s Principles for Addressing Lawful AccessMatters, no change can be made to the security architecturefor BES customers since, contrary to any rumors, the securityarchitecture is the same around the world and RIM truly has noability to provide its customers'' encryption keys," it said.

RIM cannot access information encrypted through BES giventhat neither RIM nor the wireless operators are ever inpossession of the encryption keys, the company said.

Earlier, RIM had assured the Government that they willprovide final solution for the lawful interception ofBlackBerry Messenger services by January 31, 2011. The companyhad said that this was the understanding that they were to putin place the system by January 31.

"We are pleased to have delivered a solution well beforea mutually agreed milestone date of January 31, 2011. We lookforward to continue serving our Indian customers with industryproducts and services that deliver and unmatched mobilecommunications experience," the company added.

The lawful access capability, now available to RIM''scarrier partners (the service providers who offer Blackberryservices) meets the standards required by the government forall consumer messaging services offered in the Indian marketplace.

The company claimed that it has been assured that all theRIM''s competitors must provide lawful access capabilities tothis same standard if they have not done so already.

BlackBerry has over one million subscribers in India,which is one of the fastest growing markets in the world interms of new subscriber additions.

The Canada-based company has made it clear that itssecurity systems are still cutting edge by saying, the companymaintains a consistent global standard for lawful accessrequirements that does not include special deals for specificcountries.