Blackberry services: India for deal with Canada

NEW DELHI: India is looking for a special "government to government" agreement with Canada to get access to all services of BlackBerry, including its enterprise mail, following differences between security agencies and the smart phone manufacturer over its interception.

Taking a cue from a similar type of pact between the US and Canada, India may go for such an agreement with Canada which will make Research-In-Motion ( RIM), the smart phone maker, mandatory to share any information that the security agencies here look for.

"This is feasible for India," a government official said and indicated that the issue had figured during the talks between Indian security officials and Canadian National Security Advisor, who had visited New Delhi some time ago.

The Department of Telecom ( DoT) is now examining reports submitted by RIM and various telecom operators on government's demand for interception facilities to the law enforcement agencies to Blackberry services, including popular BlackBerry Enterprise Service (BES).

The Home Ministry had asked the DoT to ensure that all telecom operators submit their plans on when they can provide access to all services, including BES, whenever there is a necessity for the security agencies.

The sources said RIM was providing all intercepting facilities to the US under "government-to-government" agreement.