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KGB Successor in Russia Approves BlackBerry Import Quotas
By Bradley Cook and Alex Nicholson
Feb. 29 (Bloomberg) -- OAO Mobile TeleSystems and OAO VimpelCom, Russia's biggest mobile-phone companies, got permission to import BlackBerry e-mail devices after overcoming opposition from the main successor agency to the Soviet-era KGB.
The Economy Ministry notified the companies yesterday that their applications were approved, Mobile TeleSystems spokeswoman Irina Osadchaya and VimpelCom spokeswoman Yekaterina Osadchaya said by phone in Moscow today.
``We will be able to offer this service to customers at the start of the second quarter,'' said Irina Osadchaya, who isn't related to Yekaterina. Mobile TeleSystems was given an open-ended quota to import 7,800 handsets, while VimpelCom's quota will be known later today.
The Federal Security Service, or FSB, refused to allow the unlimited use of the BlackBerry handsets until it gained the ability to read messages sent to and from the devices. Mobile TeleSystems and VimpelCom granted access to their e-mail servers after Research In Motion Ltd., the Waterloo, Canada-based maker of the BlackBerry, refused to provide its source codes, Vedomosti newspaper reported today, citing unidentified executives from the Russian companies.
Neither Mobile TeleSystems nor VimpelCom would comment on their relationship with the FSB.
``BlackBerry security will be the same as in other countries,'' Mobile TeleSystems' Osadchaya said, declining to elaborate.
The FSB's press service declined to comment immediately, saying all questions must be sent by fax. The Economy Ministry's press service said it will comment later today.
To contact the reporter on this story: Bradley Cook in Moscow at bcook7@bloomberg.net
By Bradley Cook and Alex Nicholson
Feb. 29 (Bloomberg) -- OAO Mobile TeleSystems and OAO VimpelCom, Russia's biggest mobile-phone companies, got permission to import BlackBerry e-mail devices after overcoming opposition from the main successor agency to the Soviet-era KGB.
The Economy Ministry notified the companies yesterday that their applications were approved, Mobile TeleSystems spokeswoman Irina Osadchaya and VimpelCom spokeswoman Yekaterina Osadchaya said by phone in Moscow today.
``We will be able to offer this service to customers at the start of the second quarter,'' said Irina Osadchaya, who isn't related to Yekaterina. Mobile TeleSystems was given an open-ended quota to import 7,800 handsets, while VimpelCom's quota will be known later today.
The Federal Security Service, or FSB, refused to allow the unlimited use of the BlackBerry handsets until it gained the ability to read messages sent to and from the devices. Mobile TeleSystems and VimpelCom granted access to their e-mail servers after Research In Motion Ltd., the Waterloo, Canada-based maker of the BlackBerry, refused to provide its source codes, Vedomosti newspaper reported today, citing unidentified executives from the Russian companies.
Neither Mobile TeleSystems nor VimpelCom would comment on their relationship with the FSB.
``BlackBerry security will be the same as in other countries,'' Mobile TeleSystems' Osadchaya said, declining to elaborate.
The FSB's press service declined to comment immediately, saying all questions must be sent by fax. The Economy Ministry's press service said it will comment later today.
To contact the reporter on this story: Bradley Cook in Moscow at bcook7@bloomberg.net
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