An update for Blackberry users in the United Arab Emirates could allow unauthorised access to private information and e-mails.

The update was prompted by a text from UAE telecoms firm Etisalat, suggesting it would improve performance.

Instead, the update resulted in crashes or drastically reduced battery life.

Blackberry maker Research in Motion (RIM) said in a statement the update was not authorised, developed, or tested by RIM.

Etisalat is a major telecommunications firm based in the UAE, with 145,000 Blackberry users on its books.

In the statement, RIM told customers that “Etisalat appears to have distributed a telecommunications surveillance application… independent sources have concluded that it is possible that the installed software could then enable unauthorised access to private or confidential information stored on the user’s smartphone”.

It adds that “independent sources have concluded that the Etisalat update is not designed to improve performance of your BlackBerry Handheld, but rather to send received messages back to a central server”.

The concern over this unauthorised access only came to light when users started reporting problems with their handsets.

After downloading the update, users across the country noticed significantly reduced battery life, poor reception and in some cases, handsets stopped working altogether.

Users have complained that the firm’s customer service is unable to provide information on the problem. Initial advice led many users to simply buy new batteries.

‘Surveillance solutions’

The update has now been identified as an application developed by American firm SS8. The California-based company describes itself as a provider of “lawful electronic intercept and surveillance solutions”.

It is not clear why Etisalat wanted to include the software in the download.

The firm issued a brief statement last week, calling the problem a “slight technical fault”, saying that the “upgrades were required for service enhancements”.

Etisalat told BBC News that it stands by last week’s statement and has not yet responded to further requests for comment.

“There may be a good reason they wanted to install the software,” said one Blackberry user in Dubai who did not want to be named.

“But my biggest problem is that my phone won’t work. If you call customer service you either can’t get through, or they don’t know what to tell you. I don’t know what to do.”

RIM has now issued its own update allowing users to remove the application. Customers of the country’s rival service, Du, have not been affected.

Source: BBC News

Apple’s App Store has been big hit to supplement the popularity of iPhone. Now, news that Apple is to privately preview iPhone OS 3.0 has raised many expectations already. Now, to complement the new iPhone OS 3.0, Apple is rumored to create a ‘premium’ section in its existing App Store.

With over 15,000 applications and above 500,000,000 downloads, the App Store is ‘the’ business for Apple to supplement its iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Of the several developers, it’s being rumored that the game development companies will be given preference for the ‘Premium’ section of the App Store.

The Premium section will comprise of the applications costing $20 (Rs. 1,020 approx.) and more will be showcased. This will help the game development and other app developing companies to offer their premium applications, which according to them are difficult to develop. Many game industry stalwarts believe that iPhone OS is the next (handheld) gaming platform.

This subsection will ease off the clutter amongst the paid apps. However, getting an app enlisted under premium section could be quite a fight. Earlier, Apple was stringent about App Store policies, but later iron gates opened for several developers looking to promote their apps.

Hopefully the new iPhone 3.0 OS will unlock the CPU speed of iPhone 3G from 412 MHz to at least as much as that of iPod Touch. Currently, the second generation iPod Touch’s CPU runs at the speed of 532MHz which is way much higher than the previous generation iPod Touch and even iPhone models.

The CPU boost will eventually give game developers enough room for developing better, graphics rich games. Also, Apple App Store is now competing with rival App stores like Android Market, BlackBerry App World and Nokia’s Ovi Application Store. Let’s wait to see what strategy Apple will devise to make more business out of its App Store.

Source: TechTree