BlackBerry has been in talks with operators in the UAE to activate its voice messaging service that is currently blocked in the new Z10 smartphones being used in the country, according to different media reports.
Etisalat and du, the two leading telecom operators in the UAE, are reportedly in talks with the Canadian-based smartphone manufacturer that will allow BlackBerry to offer VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). BlackBerry offers free messaging service to its users, and the recently launched Z10 smartphone goes a step ahead to offer free voice messaging service as well.
However, this service has been banned in the UAE, apparently because this will hurt the carriers in the country. In the UAE, there are a number of expatriates who frequently make calls to different parts of the world. If the BlackBerry service is made available, and that too for free, the carriers could face huge losses. That noted, some recent developments suggest that the company is on the verge of a breakthrough and that it will soon launch its voice message service in the UAE.
According to Emirates 24/7, if the free service is made available to the UAE users, the carriers might increase their charges. It quoted a source as saying:
“One of the possibilities would be to increase the fee, in an effort to make up part of the lost revenue from international calls, as a result of this facility.”
BlackBerry has a strong fan base in the UAE. The phone arrived in the country last week and was an instant hit. If the voice messaging service is activated in the UAE there is no denying that it will serve the fans well, but the point to note here is how much extra money they will have to pay to avail the facility.
There has not been any official comment on this development from BlackBerry or the carriers in the UAE, but there is a sense of optimism in the air with respect to this development. One thing is certain that if BlackBerry is able to provide the voice messaging service in the UAE, it will gain a handsome edge over its competitors including Apple and Samsung.
Photo: BlackBerry
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