Tata to launch BlackBerry services soon

Agra, Aug 9 : Telecom service provider Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL) Saturday formally announced that it will launch BlackBerry services 'very soon'.

"BlackBerry soft launch is already done. For official launch, the company is waiting for logistics arrangement, which should be done before year end," TTSL managing director Anil Sardana said.

The company had earlier this year made public its intention to offer the push-email services in collaboration with Research in Motion (RIM), the makers of BlackBerry phones.

"We have been told that the BlackBerry services do not have scope for lawful interception, may be because it does not have a server in India and it may be difficult to monitor the content," Sardana had said then.

Presently, Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Reliance and BPL Mobile are offering BlackBerry services.

The home ministry 's concern that the BlackBerry servers, used for transmission of data for email, are located in Canada hence making it impossible for the security agencies to monitor possible security threats formed the bone of contention.

RIM had assured the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that it would sort out the BlackBerry tangle by initiating discussions between security agencies of Canada and India.

State-Owned BSNL and regional player Aircel have also showed interest in the services and intend to launch them.

TTSL will launch BlackBerry services on the 8830 handset which is being tested in its lab, Sardana said.

--IANS