SPECIAL: Business Friendly Dubai Bans Blacberry Phones
 

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/...y_7815206.html

Associated Press
UAE to ban BlackBerry services, Saudi follows suit
By ADAM SCHRECK , 08.01.10, 04:43 PM EDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The United Arab Emirates outlined plans
Sunday to block BlackBerry e-mail, messaging and Web browsing services
in a crackdown that could jeopardize efforts to establish the country as
an international business hub.

The government cited a potential security threat because encrypted data
sent on the devices is moved abroad, where it cannot be monitored for
illegal activity. But the decision - quickly followed by a similar move
in Saudi Arabia - raises questions about whether the conservative Gulf
nations are trying to further control content they deem politically or
morally objectionable.