Skip to main content

Egyptian government blocks BlackBerry service [UPDATE: Egypt begins Internet blackout]

egypt blackberryThe Egyptian government is blocking more than social media, extending its reach to mobile communication as well. Reports are spilling in from Twitter that BlackBerry devices are now unable to connect to the Internet. According to Twitter, Google is also unreachable.

There has been no response from Egyptian authorities or RIM as of yet. While it’s unfortunate for RIM, which has been plagued by international doubt over its privacy capabilities, it’s harrowing for Egyptian citizens who are quickly losing access to mass communication tools.

The protests are going on day three now, and according to The Telegraph, five are now dead as the riots escalate. The White House has declared the situation stable, Reuters reports that spokesman Robert Gibbs stated that “protesters have an obligation not to engage in violence.”


[UPDATE]

After initially blocking access to social media sites and BlackBerry web services, the Egyptian government has now completed cut off access to the Internet as well as restricted SMS use. Citizens are now virtually without communication tools, and are at risk of being isolated in the midst of violent protests. Some reports from Twitter claim landlines are also down.

The country continues to be plagued by violence as demonstrators call for the upheaval of the current political regime. ReadWriteWeb reports that videos uploaded to Facebook via proxy servers of the riots are being immediately removed, and also questions whether the government’s “’decisive measures’ may be code for ‘massacre.’”

Editors' Recommendations

Molly McHugh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
BlackBerry buys two Android-centric domain names, reveals more details about partnership
Blackberry android

The rumor mill built around the prospect of an Android-powered BlackBerry smartphone is in full force this week after the revelation that BlackBerry has purchased two Android-centric domain names: AndroidSecured.com and AndroidSecured.net.

AndroidSecured.com is functional, though it redirects to a page on BlackBerry.com emblazoned with a BlackBerry logo and Android logo sandwiching a plus sign, and headlined by the words “Bring Android to Work.” While Google’s Android for Work partnership with BlackBerry has been known since February, the new page reveals more details about the endeavor.

Read more
Users are more loyal to BlackBerry Messenger than to any other Android messaging app
bbm loyal user base instagram whatsapp message retraction

From helping find missing children to busting a corruption scandal, it seems as if there's nothing BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) can't do at this point. This is due to the messaging service's large user base, a base that seems to be very loyal, according to data from mobile intelligence company Quettra.

The number of downloads isn't an accurate indicator of how many people actually return and continue to use the app.

Read more
Whoops! BlackBerry posts to Twitter with an iPhone
Blackberry tweet

BlackBerry's social media team is looking a little silly today after it unwittingly posted a tweet from an iPhone.

Landing slap bang on the Canadian company's official Twitter feed, the message, which encouraged followers to "keep up with the conversation on @twitter," was accompanied by a lovely looking photo of the BlackBerry Classic....and an auto-generated note that said: "via Twitter for iPhone."

Read more