We understand the importance of the BlackBerry in the modern world, but we’d rather it not become an International Incident. It seems that the Canadian Chamber of Commerce is putting the screws to the South Korean Ministry of Information and Communication because of their practical ban on the device. The South Korean government has strict regulations on mobile phone software. Canada is not happy about this, and is saying that this could adversely affect the free trade agreement between the two countries.
Part of the problem is that South Korea already has a well-established broadband Internet. This not only limits BlackBerrys, but other smart phones. The issue is further complicated because using corporate email servers is rare in the country.
Still, Terry Tuharsky, chairman of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Korea, goes on to scold the country’s practices:
“I want to ask you how Korean politicians will act if Canada does not allow Samsung or Hyundai to sell their products,” he said, adding that “the storm is brewing” in Canada already.
It’s probably not a good idea to be issuing threats over this, we think.
There are further reasons for the ban:
The Ministry of Information and Communications enforces mobile phones to carry a Korean-made software standard called WIPI (Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability). According to Telus International Korea, the distributor of Blackberry in Korea, it is virtually impossible for Blackberry to have WIPI because it is built on a more advanced software platform.
Okay, sot here’s a compatibility issue, too. Plus, there isn’t a guaranteed demand for the device even if the ban was lifted.
Look, we love the BlackBerry. We think it can benefit everyone, though in different ways. However, we don’t think it’s right for one country to put pressure on another to adopt the platform.
