Remember that BlackBerry update we told you about last week? Well it looks like Etisalat has indeed infected about 145,000 BlackBerry units with spyware which could be used to spy on customers’ SMS messages. Here’s what RIM had to say about the whole issue:

Etisalat appears to have distributed a telecommunications surveillance application… independent sources have concluded that it is possible that the installed software could then enable unauthorized access to private or confidential information stored on the user’s smartphone. Independent sources have concluded that the Etisalat update is not designed to improve performance of your BlackBerry Handheld, but rather to send received messages back to a central server.

RIM does not approve such measures especially as said update hasn’t been authorized by RIM. Therefore the company is offering you a fix, an app remover which will let you enjoy your Berry spyware free.

What’s amazing is that Etisalat is not admitting doing anything wrong. According to the UAE carrier the update was “required for service enhancements.”

via Engadget

Tags: BlackBerry, Etisalat, firmware, Mobile News, Portable Devices, Research In Motion, RIM, Spyware, UAE, Update

Here’s some disturbing piece of news or better yet, ab unconfirmed rumor. It looks like BlackBerry owners in the UAE have received a performance enhancement patch from Etisalat, their official carrier. Said patch is apparently something else! It’s a spyware that will ultimately give Etisalat access to its customers’ messages and maybe more. Well that’s not nice now, is it?

Like I said, there’s nothing official so far but Etisalat customers have noticed reduced performance and battery life in their phones which was weird considering that the patch should have improved the overall performance. According to Nigel Gourlay the patch originates from a surveillance company, the SS8, and it can be activated at any time Etisalat chooses to. Besides text messages, the spyware can also monitor emails. Fortunately this whole surveillance thing can’t be handled by Etisalat’s network just yet. It looks like a 100,000 BlackBerry phones trying to connect to the registration server for the phone caused the battery and performance failure and thus the potential spyware was discovered. If you own an Etisalat Berry you should get rid of that patch somehow as you definitely deserve your privacy. What will Etisalat have to say about all this?

via Register

Tags: BlackBerry, Etisalat, Mobile News, Other Brands, Patch, Portable Devices, Privacy, Research In Motion, UAE

After a successful trip in other parts of the world, the BlackBerry Storm is now ready to invade the UAE. Etisalat will be the lucky carrier this time.  Abdulla Hashim, VP, Business Solutions, Etisalat, had this to say on the occasion:

The BlackBerry Storm leverages Etisalat’s HSPA mobile broadband service with coverage of up to 99% of the populated areas in the UAE and roaming in 120 countries worldwide, to offer a perfect blend of connectivity, flexibility and convenience. This latest launch with RIM will create even more momentum in a market where Etisalat has been very successful in helping customers reap the productivity benefits of the BlackBerry platform.”

Let’s see what RIM has in store for us this September, assuming that the Storm 2 will be released on time.

Tags: BlackBerry, Cell Phones, Etisalat, Research In Motion, Storm, UAE

Evidently, everyone expects Apple to launch a new iPhone in June. And we have plenty of time to talk about the future iPhone, no matter if it will arrive or not in June.

The iPhone 3G will be launched in the United Arab Emirates later this month and that might indicate a June release of the third iPhone version. On February 15th the iPhone 3G will arrive to UAE and Saudi Arabia, and Mark Davis, Program Director for iPhone at Etisalat (the company bringing the iPhone) said to Dow Jones that “next version of the device, which is due out in June, will be launched in the UAE at the same time.” Was he supposed to say that out loud? Now, that the “secret” is out, we should expect all sorts of new iPhone features to pop up all over the Internet. But what do you have to say about this iPhone next generation hype?

via AppleInsider

Tags: 3G, Apple, Apple, Etisalat, iPhone, Mobile News, Mobile Software, Other Brands, Saudi Arabia, UAE