Monday, July 6, 2009

Indonesia gives deadline to BlackBerry producer

The government has set a deadline for Canada-based Research In Motion (RIM) to set up local after-sales service outlets for BlackBerry by July 16, or else, the government would ban the importation of new BlackBerry products.

“We took this decision after we found no progress in the last three meetings between the government, including several representatives from the Directorate General of Post and Telecommunications, and RIM in June,” the directorate general spokesman Gatot S.Dewabroto said in a statement on Sunday.

The government insisted that the after-sales service was mandatory under the law, and it’s important to protect BlackBerry users, which could reach one million by the end of this year.

Gatot said his ministry had issued letter No.586/DJPT.5/KOMINFO/VII/2009 dated July 1, saying that the government would ban any importation of new BlackBerry products until RIM opens after-sales service network in the country.

“Another consequence of this letter is that we will revoke the license we have granted to BlackBerry importers so that the importers can no longer import the products,” he said.

Gatot, nevertheless, assured existing BlackBerry users that the government would ensure that they would continue to get BlackBerry services.

“We just suggest them to buy only certified BlackBerry products,” he said.

Source: Financial24