Indian Authorities to Meet to Discuss BlackBerry Messenger Ban

Indian officials will meet today to discuss whether to ban BlackBerry instant messenger service.

India's home ministry and intelligence agencies are to meet Monday to discuss the RIM proposals, Bloomberg News said without naming its sources. Research In Motion (RIMM) said Aug. 26 that any solution would have to ensure security for communications.

Countries including India, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have all threatened to curtail BlackBerry services, saying that the encrypted messages could pose a security threat.

"If BlackBerry allows this to happen here in India, it's not just an Indian effect," Romal Shetty, executive director of the telecommunications practice at KPMG's Indian unit, told Bloomberg News. "It's going to affect them in many other countries."