THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Scores of BlackBerry users in the city are heaving a sigh a relief following relaxations in the proposed restrictions on the ban of BlackBerry services in the country.
As Research in Motion (RIM), the Canadian company that offers BlackBerry service, has fallen in line with the security guidelines of the Centre to certain extent, the Government has relaxed the proposed ban on BlackBerry messenger, text message and voice call services. But the scores of users are still concerned whether the BlackBerry corporate e-mail service still remains in the August 31 deadline issued by the Centre.
From e-mail to instant messenger, BlackBerry service is being widely used by scores of persons in the city ever since its introduction a few years ago, both for personal as well as professional use. Many have even become addicts to the service mainly because they can remain online round the clock. The users of BlackBerry also feel that it is quite user friendly too, compared to many other similar services.
‘’Any blanket ban on BlackBerry service would definitely make scores of its users handicapped,” says Renjith Karthikeyan, a chartered accountant based in the city.
Renjith, who has been using BlackBerry service over the last two years, says that he has become an addict to it as he can stay connected round the clock with this service. ‘’The push mail and messenger services being provided by BlackBerry are very useful these days,” he says, adding that, however, much significance should be attached to the national security issues.
Ever since the issue over BlackBerry ban came up in India, the users were pinning hope on the speculations that since India is a strong market for BlackBerry, they may fall in line with the Indian security guidelines.
Technopark Chief Executive Officer Mervin Alexander, who also has been using BlackBerry over the last couple of years, is also quite concerned. ‘’The service has been very convenient, especially when you are moving around frequently. Though several other alternative services are available, they won’t match the BlackBerry service. Moreover, it has global access and even American President Barack Obama is using it,” says Mervin, adding that he never had any major problem with it.
‘’If security guidelines are followed, it should be defiinitely allowed, ‘’ says Mervin.
Many IT professionals who are working on overseas projects are also using BlackBerry service as an effective communication device. ‘’I have to be in touch with my client in Canada round the clock, for which I have been using BlackBerry messenger and mailing service over the last couple of years. A ban on the service would be a major blow to many like me,” says Thomas Mathai, a city-based IT entrepreneur.
‘’Also, I depend on BlackBerry to finish urgent jobs while on the move,’’ he adds.
trivandrum@expressbuzz.com