Dubai is the latest country threatening to shut down BlackBerry service unless they are allowed access to encrypted messages. Like India and Saudi Arabia, Dubai has given RIM a deadline before the country will ban the use of BlackBerry devices. Apparently, the threat of ban is due to concerns over spying by the US and Israel.

'Dubai's police chief, Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim, said that fears of espionage and information sharing by foe Israel — as well as UAE allies United States and Britain — helped prompt the possible limits on the popular BlackBerry.

Tamim told a conference on information technology that the proposed BlackBerry curbs are also "meant to control false rumors and defamation of public figures due to the absence of surveillance," according to a story posted Friday on the website of the UAE newspaper Al-Khaleej.'

RIM should not be caving to these countries but should instead call their bluff. In the current economic environment, countries like Dubai who rely heavily on business tourism will be shooting themselves in the foot if they limit a business tool like the BlackBerry.