Indonesia Imposes Ban on New BlackBerry Phones

Indonesia has imposed a temporary ban on issuing permits for new BlackBerry phones to be imported into the country until the company opens a local office with after-sales services, an official told the Jakarta Globe newspaper. The Communication and Information Technology Ministry has informed cellphone operators and importers of the decision, ministry spokesman Gatot S Dewabroto said.

However, the decision only affects new BlackBerry handsets which need permission to be sold in the local market. Handsets that already have an import license can continue to be sold, added Gatot.

Adita Irawati, vice president of corporate communications at PT Indosat, said that her company was working with the government in hopes of proceeding with its planned launch of a CDMA BlackBerry model. "However, we also support the government's effort to ask RIM to open a branch in Indonesia," she said. "That would help cut costs and lower prices."

The government estimates that the number of "legal" BlackBerry users may exceed one million by year's end.

On the web: Jakarta Globe

Posted to the site on 27th June 2009