Skip to main content

BlackBerry and Vodafone restored for some Egyptians; Internet still down

cell phonesThe Internet blackout continues in Egypt, but BlackBerry service has been restored in the largely disconnected country. Egyptian authorities shut down BlackBerry access after initially blocking social media sites like Twitter and Faebook to control political protests, and all cell phone and Internet connection quickly followed. There are now reports that BlackBerry and Vodafone are working in Cairo and in other parts of the country. It is unknown whether this is true for all of Egypt, however.

NBC Correspondent Richard Engel reported that his own BlackBerry was working in Cairo early this morning his time, noting that “I don’t think that’s going to fundamentally change the equation, but it is showing responsiveness” (see video below). ABC News’ Lara Setrakian also tweeted that cell phone service was coming back but that the Internet was still inaccessible on the 29.

Recommended Videos

As Egyptians (or at least some) regain BlackBerry and possibly other cell phone services, North American’s lost it. Canadian and U.S. RIM users reportedly lost connected through their BlackBerries until Saturday morning this weekend. RIM has since resolved the issue.

Vodafone released a statement Saturday morning saying it had restored voice services for Egyptian customers, and also noted that “It has been clear to us that there were no legal or practical options open to Vodafone, or any of the mobile operators in Egypt, but to comply with the demands of the authorities.”

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Molly McHugh
Former Social Media/Web Editor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
Act fast and save $400 on the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar
The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar in Carbon Gray.

We're getting to the point where it is more and more affordable to get one of the best smartwatches or fitness trackers. The tech has been around for quite some time and we're even to the point where some government officials are wanting everyone to have a health tracker. So, I shouldn't be too surprised to see this deal on the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar at its lowest price on Amazon, ever, but I am a little bit. I just covered the gray and orange version getting a $250 discount a few months ago and here I am, looking at a different color with a $400 discount. Right now you can get the 47mm, Carbon Gray colored, Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar for just $500, a very decent drop from its usual $900, by tapping the button below. If you want, however, keep on reading to get a reminder on just how great this smartwatch is.

$500 at Amazon

Read more
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 preorder deals plus $50 credit
The back of the Galaxy Z Fold 7

Samsung Galaxy phones have entered their lucky number 7 era. We've got the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE all coming out later this month. And, if you pre-order now, you can yours by July 25th. Plus, if you pre-order after tapping the button you will receive an additional $50 credit in addition to all other pre-order discounts. This is the strongest pre-order offer available, so be sure to take advantage of it. Tap the button now and start making your selections. Just note that after you hit the button you'll only have 30 minutes to get the $50 credit. As a result, we recommend clicking now and then following along with the pre-order advice guide.

Preorder now

Read more
Google confirms merging Chrome OS and Android into one platform
Google Chrome app on s8 screen.

Why it matters: Google's push to blend Chrome OS and Android could supercharge affordable laptops like Chromebooks, making them more versatile for work and play. This move echoes Apple's seamless ecosystem across iPadOS and macOS, potentially shaking up the PC market where Windows dominates but innovation lags.

What's happening: In a bombshell interview, Google's Android ecosystem president Sameer Samat outright confirmed the company is "combining Chrome OS and Android into a single platform. This follows months of rumors and aligns with Android 16's new desktop-friendly features, like proper windowing and external display support. But then Samat later clarified on X that it's not a full-on merger killing Chrome OS; instead, it's about weaving Android's tech stack deeper into Chrome for better app compatibility and hardware efficiency.

Read more