Govt not in talks with RIM over access

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Government of India is not in talks with Research in Motion (RIM) over access to the Canadian company's BlackBerry services, but instead talking with operators on gaining access, Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said on Thursday.

RIM has insisted that it cannot give the Indian government access to its encrypted email service, something the authorities want. It has offered access to its messaging services.

Mobile phone operators are required by law to meet India security requirements and the government could force them to shut down BlackBerry services or make other requirements.

"We don't have anything to do with BlackBerry. We are only dealing with service providers," Pillai said. "We will be setting a deadline with them, declining to name a date.

The government has in the past said it would shut down the popular email system if RIM did not give it access to the service.

India is among several countries that want access to RIM's encrypted BlackBerry services on concerns they could be used by potential militants, and has threatened the company with a ban if denied access to the data.