BlackBerry firm seeks security "balance" in Russia

By: Alexei Anishchuk
From: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/25/us-blackberry-russia-idUSTRE73O1ZL20110425

(Reuters) - BlackBerry maker Research In Motion said Russia could help development of new technologies by finding a balance between state security and innovation.

Co-chief executive Jim Balsillie said on Monday the Canadian company had "ambitious plans" in Russia and offered President Dmitry Medvedev -- an avid user of Apple's iPad -- a new Blackberry tablet at a meeting on developing new technology.

RIM, whose BlackBerry products are used by executives and politicians including U.S. President Barack Obama, has faced demands from countries such as India and Saudi Arabia to give authorities access to its encrypted communications services.

Speaking to reporters before the Medvedev meeting, Balsillie said: "A very important (question) for Russia is how do they balance the need for letting innovative things happen, but managing state security.

Many countries grapple with this around the world," he said, adding a balance was needed that "allows innovation to happen, but still state security to be looked after".

India this year demanded full access to BlackBerry services as part of efforts to fight militancy and security threats over the internet and through telephone communications.

RIM said in January it has given India the means to access its Messenger service but reiterated no changes could be made to allow the monitoring of secure corporate emails.

RIM encrypts email messages as they travel between a BlackBerry device and a computer known as BlackBerry Enterprise Server. The company has said it does not have a master key to decode these emails and only the sponsoring business or organization has the technical capability to grant access to encrypted enterprise email.

BLACKBERRY IN RUSSIA

Russia's two biggest carriers began offering BlackBerry services in late 2007, after years of negotiations between RIM and the Federal Security Service (FSB) that did not involve handing over encryption codes.

The FSB domestic spy service called earlier this month for access to encrypted communication providers like Gmail, Hotmail and Skype, saying uncontrolled use of such services could threaten national security.

Russia's communications minister, Igor Shchyogolev, told Reuters ahead of Medvedev's meeting the government wanted international companies like RIM to be present on the Russian market, offering "the most up-to-date technologies".

"If there are some network security demands, and they exist globally, we need to seek compromise to provide security and at the same time not to set up barriers for companies," he said.

Balsillie said Russia was still a relatively small market for RIM meaning it had "extremely ambitious plans to sell Blackberry in Russia, invest in R&D, (and) also to invest in start-ups".

(Writing by Maria Kiselyova and Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Dan Lalor)

Built into your mobile phone: mobile websites

Mobile phones are a widely used form of communication for business purposes.
With earlier developments of smart mobiles, their Touch Phones are used only for talking purposes. People can get information to others via a telephone. This is one service where you sit in only one place and take in all the information about your relatives.

You can get this service in just a few seconds. After its development, Touch Screen Phones have changed mobile technology. As new upcoming mobile phones arrive known as smart phones, even newer models are grabbing all the latest technology which arrives in mobile world.

With the help of cellphones, you can not only use it for talking purpose but also a lot of features such as 3GP internet service. With this service, you can access your internet type facility on your phone. Touch Phone internet accesses is similar to a network of computers. Today, the most widely used internet browser on mobile phones is java or Netscape. Accessing power is the same as the computer internet. Some mobiles do not support some special web pages of internet, but here you have also an option to download some extra software or applications to your cell phone.

Some applications fully support all types of web pages – for example, mobile browsers such as OPERA MINI. This is most suitable to all mobiles. It provides access speeds also much faster than a normal mobile explorer. With help of mobile internet, you can download a lot of thing, such as music, games, ringtones, movies etc. With upcoming latest phones, you can get mobiles which already connect or loaded some most special website. Most of websites are specially made for BlackBerry videos users; you can upload beautiful videos online with these mobile phones. As of these mobile sites it gives you all of things were you find in almost in normal web site, their application are supported almost mobile phones.

Mobile Phones a New Type of Entertainment

Many people realize that a mobile phone is simply an advanced form of radio technology; they work through the use of invisible radio waves. The invention of the telephone is attributed to the Scotsman, Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. Bell’s version of the telephone was actually based on the earlier research of the Italian, Nikolai Tesla in 1880. Since a radio signal can be sent wirelessly, it has the ability to allow us to communicate over vast distances. This wireless technology has evolved into the new era of the touch phone and other now common electronic devices.

Modern man has become increasingly dependent on electronic gadgets like the computer, mobile phone, multimedia players etc. These instruments have become an essential part of contemporary life. In addition to being useful, current versions of the radio technology, which provides the wireless transfers of data, have become a key source of entertainment and communication. Touch Screen Phones, for example, provide information, while they also provide music, social experience and a whole lot more. Contemporary life can be hectic and stressful, but with a smartphone, you have a world of entertainment and productivity at your finger tips to provide you with some much needed stress relief.

The burdens of modern life can cause a variety of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Listening to music, chatting with a friend and even playing video games on your mobile phone may provide a welcome distraction to the chaos of the daily routine. Of course, being able to discuss your worries and problems with a friend or family member on the phone can also be extremely helpful. In addition, being able to find information and advice to help you deal with your problems is a valuable resource to help you cope with whatever problems you are facing. Specifically, the touch screen phone and tablet computer are two of the latest additions to the pantheon of modern mobile devices that are likely to prove an invaluable source of entertainment and fun.

BlackBerry maker says any new restrictions in the UAE would also apply to other smartphones

From: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/blackberry-maker-says-any-new-smartphone-restrictions-in-uae-would-apply-to-others-too/2011/04/17/AF5SL7sD_story.html
By Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The maker of BlackBerry devices says tighter restrictions on the popular gadgets proposed by Emirati authorities would likely apply to other smartphones too, raising new questions about data freedom in the Gulf Arab nation.

The United Arab Emirates’ telecommunications regulator has outlined plans to limit access to the Blackberry Enterprise Server system, which provides the most secure form of communication on the handheld devices. It is used by many international companies and government agencies to keep emails and other data safe.

Only organizations with 20 or more BlackBerry accounts would be allowed to use the service under the UAE’s proposed new rules. Others would need to rely on a less-secure system that analysts say is easier for authorities to monitor and could cause accessibility problems for corporate users.

The proposed policy shift opens a new front in the Emirates’ push to gain greater control over smartphone data. Barely six months ago, the federation backed down from a threat to impose a sweeping ban on the most popular BlackBerry services amid concerns about security.

“It seems very arbitrary. ... All I can think is that they’re trying to address their security concerns by limiting the use of this more secure platform to larger companies and organizations,” said Matthew Reed, a Dubai-based analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media, a research firm. “It will inconvenience quite a few people” who work for smaller companies and branch offices, he said.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority on Saturday sought to assure customers that all BlackBerry services will continue. But it has not explicitly backed down from plans to limit access to the most secure service.

Research in Motion Ltd., the Canadian company that makes BlackBerrys, said in an emailed statement Sunday it has been in contact with the regulator and understands that other smartphone makers could also face new restrictions.

“The TRA has confirmed to RIM that any potential policy regarding enterprise services in the UAE would be an industrywide policy applying equally to all enterprise solution providers,” the company said.

In the telecom industry, the term enterprise generally refers to company phones often tied to a corporate email account. RIM said it understands the new UAE policies would aim to avoid affecting “legitimate enterprise customers.”

The TRA did not reply to a request for clarification Sunday.

RIM built its reputation on the security of its enterprise system, which routes encrypted data traffic through corporate computers typically stored abroad. That makes it extremely difficult to monitor.

It also sells BlackBerry devices to consumers who can access email through a less-secure system known as the BlackBerry Internet Service, which runs over the regular Internet.

“There is still some encryption. It is just not regarded as being as strong as the security on the BES,” Reed said.

Other smartphone manufacturers, including Motorola Inc. and iPhone maker Apple Inc., are starting to win enterprise customers. But none has managed to unseat RIM in the UAE, where the BlackBerry remains the phone of choice among foreign professionals and affluent citizens alike.

The federation of just over 8 million people has at least 500,000 BlackBerry users.

The UAE’s smartphone policies have been closely watched since last summer when it threatened to shut off BlackBerry messaging, email and Web browsing services partly because of security concerns. It backed off the plan in October.

Critics said the effort also aimed to keep a closer eye on political activism in the federation. Although the UAE has seen none of the widespread unrest roiling other parts of the Arab world, authorities have detained at least three activists calling for democratic reforms in recent days.

In 2009, the Emirates’ leading state-run phone company, Etisalat, was caught instructing BlackBerry customers to download spy software that could allow outsiders to peer inside. It misled users by describing the software as a required service upgrade.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Mobile Phone: A Revolution in Communication Technology

Communication has always been one of the most important challenges for human beings throughout history. For thousands of years there were only a handful of ways for people to pass on information. The earliest messages had to be passed a long orally, but people soon learned to draw and use song. The development of alphabets and writing helped further the process of communication. It wasn't until the discovery of electricity that man was able to send pulses across wires, and Alexander Graham Bell was able to invent the first telephone. A lot has changed in the past century, and even more so in just the last few decades. Once the phone was made to be untethered in the late 70's the race to develop the mobile phone has been off and running.

Mobile phones derive their name due to their portability. They are also known as cell phones relating to their use of a cellular style network. Mobile phones have come a long way in a short time. There are few places left in the world were people can't access one. For some poorer countries lacking in infrastructure cell phones made life easier for people in remote areas to connect with the outside world. The phones themselves are available in a rage of prices, some even free in conjunction with a service contract. Many people have replaced their land lines in favor of a mobile phone. Today there are hundreds of millions of subscribers around the world all interconnect thanks to this amazing technology.

Mobile phones grew a long side their sibling the personal computer. Now they have joined together to form what is known as a smartphone. A merging of these two great technologies to deliver unlimited potential. With phones today resembling powerful computers small enough to fit in our pockets and fast enough to send large amounts of data at the speed of light. So might say that the mobile phone has become one of the greatest assets to mans ability to communicate, others might feel that they have put more distance between us. Whatever you may think of these important devices no one can deny the changes that they have made in making the world a little bit smaller.

BlackBerry new technology mobile

As the development on latest technology is changing, it will become easier to grab all the information you want. If you need some new things or to get information about a new brand, then you can simply use the Internet, and you will get all the information about them you need. Nowadays, everything difficult to do in the old days is becoming possible.

Users want something new all the time, whether it is cars or cell phones. All the time, brands launch new varieties of handsets. In the mobile category, we see new developments in this field constantly, and we are able to use the phones in a number of new ways.

In the cell phone category, you will find the latest or most recent mobile models. The mobile phone company makes products that enhance older models and repackage them in a new way. Many companies launch their cell phones after updating them with the latest features. They then make new mobiles after upgrading previous features. Most of the cell phone brands come with new features using the latest technology. Many mobile makers release their mobile on the basis of rectifying previous faults. They concentrate on making it with the latest techniques or technology. BlackBerry is a new name that comes in the newest featured smartphone category.

If we talk about getting a phone which can be used only for talking purposes, then this is also available to you. Nowadays, most of the latest phones are known as smart phones. Smartphones are not only used for talking; you can use it for all your business purposes. The main motto is to make a mobile that is not only used for entertainment but also provides personal enrichment. These smart phones come onto the market all the time. They have built-in, state-of-the-art technology.

Smartphone Market Expected to Soar in 2011

Recourse from:http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/smartphone-market-expected-to-soar-in-2011/?scp=1&sq=smart%20phone&st=cse

By NICK BILTON

Smartphones, smartphones, smarthphones! That’s what we have to look forward to over the next several months.

According to new research by the International Data Corporation, a company that tracks technology market share and sales, smartphone makers are expected to “ship more than 450 million smartphones in 2011 compared to the 303.4 million units shipped in 2010.” These predictions show that the smartphone market is expected to grow by as much as 50 percent over the next year.

The worldwide demand for smartphones is fueling a tense business market too. Google, Apple, Research in Motion and Microsoft, are heavily peddling their mobile operating systems and constantly take jabs at one another during new product announcements.

The smartphone race has also fueled a mind-boggling morass of legal battles too. Apple has sued HTC, maker of the Google phone; Nokia has sued Apple, twice, over patents related to the iOS user interface; RIM has sued Sharp and Motorola over hardware.

For now, the agitation between these companies is good news for consumers as a multitude of options have become available at different prices.

Ramon Llamas, a senior research analyst with IDC’s Mobile Devices Technology team, said in a news release that the Google Android platform was set to take the lead in the mobile operating system fight as Google partnered with more device manufactures to reach a broader audience.

“For the vendors who made Android the cornerstone of their smartphone strategies, 2010 was the coming-out party,” wrote Mr. Llamas. ”This year will see a coronation party as these same vendors broaden and deepen their portfolios to reach more customers, particularly first-time smartphone users.”

IDC also noted that “Nokia’s recent announcement to shift from Symbian to Windows Phone will have significant implications for the smartphone market going forward.” The partnership between Microsoft and Nokia could make Windows Phone the second most popular mobile operating system worldwide by 2015, IDC said.

The first round of Nokia devices running the Windows Phone operating system are expected to appear by early 2012.

Smart phone is identical to other handsets

Today, smart phones are used as identical operating systems capable of adding lots of applications, unlike regular phones. Most regular phones support Java application. Smart phone’s operating systems are developed by manufacturers, not made by third parties or software developers. Smart phones’ personal organizer functionality is fully supported as a feature of e-mail type capabilities. The next other function of smart phone is its keypad. QWERTY key pad and touch screen type features make a smart phone superior to other handsets. The most common features of the smart phone is a d-pad, touch screen, camera with flash, music player, internet browser, contact management and accelerometer-type features.

However, the most common feature of the smart phone is a list of contact details. It has the ability to store a lot of contact details. If we talk about its memory, then you also have the option to extend it. Nowadays, you have to extend your phone’s memory maximum 32 GB or a minimum of 16GB. The demand for smart phones grows faster day by day; basically the demand for a phone depends on the customer. If the customer needs something new or they want a feature, they pick a phone that has it.

Today, most of the phones available on the market can choose it by your own choice. If you love music very much, then you have to buy music-supporting phones. If you get a mobile that also supports some business purpose, then this will also help you if you need to do business on the move.

There are lots of choices or options available to customers. He can get a cell phone according to his choice. PDA phones now come with most of the updated features such as camera phones from 3MP to 5MP.

Women’s Favourite Smartphones

From the moment it showed up on the market, the smartphone has become very attractive and enticing to different generations around the globe. Even those who despise owning any type of mobile phone have to admit that they would do just about anything to get their hands onto one. These little devices can really assist you in organizing your busy, hectic life. Smartphones, luckily for us, come in thousands of styles on the market today, allowing everyone to find the perfect phone for themselves.

What kind of smartphone you are going to choose depends on your lifestyle, the job that you have, and other variables. To put it in another way – what are you going to need it for? Lately, women have become more and more interested in these phones. It’s no coincidence that many models are designed especially for them. Some women seem not to care about the special features that the smartphone provides users. It would seem that it is more important that they own “something” special, enabling these women to express their personality through their phones. The first attribute that can attract a woman to a phone is its color. Recently, there are so many pink telephones on the market that this color has since become a brand in itself.

The first woman’s phone was the Samsung BlackJack II, which is offered in pink. It has Windows Mobile 6, GPS, a 2-megapixel camera and a QWERTY keyboard. Many could care less that it does not offer Wi-Fi or voice dialing support.

Another favourite model is the Pink Palm Centro. This phone is relatively cheap in price, but still comes complete with a smartphone, is paltry in size, and is also light, making it easy to carry around throughout the day. It also offers a QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth, EV-DO support, and push e-mail. As with the Samsung BlackJack II, there is no Wi-Fi function available.

Another favourite model is the pink BlackBerry Curve, the top winner here. This smartphone offers Wi-Fi, a QWERTY keyboard, along with a 2.0 megapixel camera. It gives users great call quality and its design is very appealing and fashionable. Whether it is pink in color or not, this model seems to be very popular among women, especially because of some of the special applications it offers, such as Messenger, Health Recipes, Calorie Counter, Our Groceries, Lookz, Gwabbit, Horoscopes, and other useful items. So, when it comes to women, it is not as much about the technical characteristics of the smartphone that wins over this group, but rather its style and colour.

Whether we like it or not, we now belong to the smartphone generation. Everyday, something changes in what it is customers are seeking, and other models of phones continue to appear on the market. They are invented to make our lives easier, and this has certainly been achieved. We can only imagine what to expect from them in the near future.

BlackBerry App From OverDrive Enables Direct Library eBook Downloads

Resource from:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42457223

CLEVELAND, OH — Public, school, and college libraries now provide direct EPUB eBook downloads on BlackBerry® mobile devices with the free OverDrive® Media Console™ app for BlackBerry. Users at more than 13,000 libraries worldwide can wirelessly download and enjoy EPUB eBooks, as well as MP3 audiobooks, on their BlackBerry devices. Libraries offer best-selling titles, such as "The Social Animal" by David Brooks and "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, which can be borrowed and enjoyed using OverDrive's app for BlackBerry. Popular business eBooks and audiobooks, as well as titles in virtually any subject, are also available from the library using the BlackBerry app.

The OverDrive app for BlackBerry is available from OverDrive's website and the MobiHand Superstore. The app will also appear in BlackBerry App World™ in the coming weeks. To see if your library is a member of the OverDrive network, visit OverDrive Search.

OverDrive's BlackBerry app provides untethered access to EPUB eBooks and MP3 audiobooks from the library. The app's "Get Books" feature makes it easy to find a local library, and then browse for titles, check them out with a library card, and download directly to BlackBerry. Digital books from the library will automatically expire in the app, so there are never late fees. Users will also benefit from enhancements, such as an orientation lock and custom bookmarks.

The free eBook app from OverDrive can be installed on BlackBerry touch-screen devices running BlackBerry OS v4.7 (or newer) and non-touch-screen devices running BlackBerry OS v4.5 (or newer). The BlackBerry app joins the previously released OverDrive apps for iPhone®, iPad®, and Android™, which have been installed nearly one million times.

OverDrive provides digital distribution services for more than 13,000 libraries, retailers, and schools worldwide with support for Windows®, Mac®, iPod®, iPhone, iPad, Sony® Reader, NOOK™, Android, and BlackBerry.

About OverDrive
OverDrive is a leading multichannel digital distributor of eBooks, audiobooks, music, and video. We deliver secure management, DRM protection, and download fulfillment services for hundreds of publishers and thousands of libraries, schools, and retailers, serving millions of end users. OverDrive has been named to the EContent 100 as a company that matters most in the digital content industry. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, OH. www.overdrive.com

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The Practical Use of Tablet PCs

Tablet PCs are an invaluable piece of technology but they are not suitable for every consumer’s needs. Some people may find laptop computers more suitable as they still offer a higher quality of hardware and software performances. Still, tablet PCs are developing their practical side daily and it is important to become knowledgeable with this technology as its development can significantly raise its performance abilities in the future. Tablets did not find their way into the large consumer market yet, but they are revealing that they are suitable for certain people who do not require the performance abilities that a laptop can provide in their daily lives.

Advanced touch screen technology is applied to these computers. Common computers have not incorporated this technology as of yet due to the fact that they do not meet budget requirements. A more common use of touch screen technology has been found on touch screen phones. Touch phones, such as the Blackberry phone series, has demonstrated that this technology does not question the resolution quality of video output. The possibility of viewing BlackBerry Videos on mobile phones is a solid example of just how far technology has come over the years.

This makes tablet PCs perfect for designers or cartoonists who are constantly on the move. Tablets allow users the ability to use a pen to input or create sketches for their designs and even make drawings. Logical sensing circuits allow the possibility of recognizing handwriting input, making it suitable for writers or anyone who wishes to take notes at any time. If your handwriting is illegible, there is also a virtual keyboard built in these computers. An even more advanced feature is the ability to recognize voice and convert it into text. That is, if you are not embarrassed talking to your PC in public.

It is also perfect for any businessperson who is constantly travelling. Besides checking email and using it as a wireless voice-over-IP phone, the handwriting recognition feature can assist in signing documents and forwarding them to people by e-mail or fax.

While touch screen phones are still more popular amongst private users and businesspeople alike, tablet PCs are still making rapid progress when it comes to performance. Some of them also provide users with a DVD player and general performance has also begun to improve in quality. While touchphones are still very useful and practical, tablets are developing and combining performance features of a laptop computer with the practicality of a smart phone. It is possible they will become a replacement for regular laptops as technology advances in the future.

Recognizing a Good Touch Screen Phone

Touch screen technology, developed by CERN, has found practical use among Tablet PCs and touch phones. Whilst some cell phones are still using primitive touch screen technology to make the price of touch screen phones price more affordable, others are using a very advanced form of this technology, which has come a long way since 1980.

The first application of touch screens began in railway stations and airports. The first devices were very inaccurate and could only support a few input fields. But this was enough to be used for faster e-check in or ticket purchasing.

After significant research was invested into the development of touch screens, the technology became more precise and was soon advanced enough for the creation of touch screen phones and tablet PCs.

Smart phones are the cell phones of the future. They combine regular calling and texting services with more advanced features which were previously on found on PCs, making it easier to stay in touch with people over the internet. All smart phones are touch phones, but not all touch phones are smart phones.

When choosing a good touch screen phone, it is important to make sure that the technology is advanced enough to use the touch screen fully. Some phones still use outdated technology and require the use of excessive force on the screen to enable input. This may cause the screen to get damaged quickly, not to mention how frustrating it is to not be able to input some things correctly and quickly. Other features, such as multi-touch, are also not supported on these phones.

A good example of a smartphone is a Blackberry phone, which also comes with an additional physical keyboard. They are very popular among people who do not yet trust touch screen technology completely and like to have an alternative for typing input. Once popular among businessmen, the Blackberry is now adding more entertaining features such as the BlackBerry Videos. Watching video in high resolution on a mobile phone shows how touch screens do not sacrifice resolution quality for the improved functionality of being touch screen.

All smart phones come with advanced and durable touch screens and have other features that separate them from regular phones with a touch screen. They come with an expandable OS, so it is possible to install additional applications. When connected to the internet they can browse all HTML or XML pages as well as regular mobile phone pages. These are important features to look for when buying a touch screen phone.