Blackberry manufacturers say talks with Indian Government positive

New Delhi, Jan.20 (ANI): Research In Motion Ltd. Thursday said its talks with the Indian Government over access to deciphering corporate emails sent through its BlackBerry smart phones are "ongoing and positive".

The statement follows a local newspaper report that the Canadian company has temporarily suspended talks with the Indian government after the leaking of sensitive information related to the negotiations to the media.

"We continue to work with the government of India toward mutually agreed objectives within the framework of RIM's publicly stated principles and we remain focused on our commitment to India and our strong growing customer base," the Wall Street Journal quoted the company, as saying in an e-mailed statement.

The newspaper cited a communication from the Canadian high commissioner to the Indian Home Secretary G.K. Pillai, but didn't say where it got the information.

The report also cited a separate communication from RIM to the Indian telecom minister, Kapil Sibal, as saying talks between the government and the company must be on hold until a top RIM executive arrives in New Delhi on January 27 to assess the situation.

RIM has been under pressure from the government to provide access to data on its secure networks as India wants to monitor the company's corporate email and messenger services.

BlackBerry devices use an advanced encrypted email system and are preferred by business people because of the secure communication they offer.

Several governments, especially in the Middle East and Asia, have been pushing RIM to provide access to data on the secure networks.

The Indian government fears the heavy encryption on RIM's BlackBerry smart phones makes them convenient for terrorists to use undetected and asked RIM to grant access to its messenger services before January 31.

RIM said the date was a target, but not a deadline. (ANI)