Head’s up. Beginning Oct 1st, the United Arab Emirates will be banning the data usage of Blackberries and according to news reports, this also applies to visitors. Why?

Th ban is triggered by the way Blackberry encrypts its data. It does so on servers that are overseas. The encryption of course limits the ability for anyone (including governments) to monitor usage but the fact that the servers are overseas further aggravates (or promotes depending on which camp you’re in) the limitation.

What this means in a nutshell for business travelers:

• You can use your Blackberry – just as a phone. Not for email, Internet, messaging or anything like that.
• The new law applies to visitors too (even people passing through the airport) so if you are passing through after Oct 1st, 2010 and have a Blackberry, although we aren’t sure how exactly this will be done, be prepared to comply.

Hopefully for those of us who travel extensively this won’t be too much of a disruption.

Further reading:

Associated Press