The BlackBerry controversy has once again surfaced in the media. This time the issue has been referred to the National Security Advisor (NSA) to provide a solution to this problem.

BlackBerry was launched in 1999. It is estimated that there are approximately 4,00,000 users of BlackBerry in India. The issue is related to the storage and retrieval of e-mail messages. For telecom operators to operate in India one of the security requirements is that they should provide access to security agencies to the e-mail data as and when required.

Research in Motion (RIM ) runs the BlackBerry services. They have their servers only in Canada. RIM has refused to position any servers and India and also to provide access to security agencies. They are also not ready to lower their encryption levels as it may lead to their systems being hacked.

RIM has alleged that the Indian Government is singling it out. Similar services were being provided by Windows Mobile ActiveSync, Nokia Intellisync, Motorola Good and Seven Networks. However the services by these companies have not been stopped. An early solution to this impasse does not appear on the horizon.