The smartphone companies can now hope of profits as Indian companies are considering other options that include leaving Research in Motion (RIM) for other smartphone makers as they face a helpless ban on BlackBerry services that could disturb business.
If India blocks BlackBerry services, Apple Inc and Nokia would be among the biggest gainers as they stand next to RIM’s Blackberry Smartphones. Both the companies are in the offing.
BlackBerry faces Aug 31 deadline for giving Indian security agencies access to its corporate email and messenger services, if failed in giving the solution the government would block the services.
According to RIM, singling out BlackBerry would be counter-productive for India, as it would limit the competence and efficiency of local firms.
The rival companies of Blackberry reveal that they had started getting queries from cautious corporate BlackBerry users asking if they could be a substitute for BlackBerry.
Nine mobile operators offer BlackBerry services in India, of which Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar are estimated to have the maximum number of BlackBerry users in India.
According to Vodafone Essar, there is a chance that Vodafone could receive further orders from the government requiring the company to shut down certain services available on the BlackBerry platform for an uncertain time-span. The company will be in a clearer position after September 1 to advice on the likely outcomes and whether it is necessary to engage in any detailed contingency planning.
India may extend the deadline in its argument with RIM if the company tells that it has a solution and asks for more time. India wants to track and read BlackBerry's secure email and instant messaging services that officials fear could be misused by militants trying to create instability
India is one of a number of countries putting pressure on RIM, which has built its reputation around confidentiality.