RIM gets further 90 days to appease Indian authorities

Indian authorities have given Research in Motion (RIM) a further 90 days to find a solution allowing intelligence authorities in the country to access data being sent between BlackBerry devices, according to reports.

The Economic Times of India claims to have seen a home ministry note detailing the 90-day extension to the deadline, meaning that BlackBerry services in the country should work at least until 31 January 2011.

The minutes of a meeting said to have been attended by representatives from security agencies, the home ministry and the telecoms department also specify a solution being found that could reside within the country.

"RIM would be asked to adhere to the timeline of January 2011 to give the final solution wherein lawful access for BlackBerry messenger will not involve the overseas data path," the minutes said.

However, while the extension is only a temporary reprieve, the minutes appear to suggest that RIM could be on to a solution that the authorities are also willing accept in the long run.

"The Intelligence Bureau and the National Technical Research Organisation, which had attended the discussions, found that the solutions offered by RIM (for BlackBerry Messenger) are prima facie agreeable," it said.

V3.co.uk contacted RIM for comment on the reports but had not received a reply at the time of publication.

Earlier in the year RIM offered to set up a data forum in India to bring together companies that could be affected by India's stance, such as Google and Skype, in a move praised by analysts.

RIM also avoided the threat of a ban in the United Arab Emirates, where its services are not allowed to remain in place as before.

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