ArtashNikki

source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle09.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2010/August/theuae_August7.xml&section=theuae

(WAM)

1 August 2010, Last Updated: 2:16 PM The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA)c onfirmed today that Blackberry Messenger, Blackberry E-mail and Blackberry Web-browsing services in the UAE will be suspended as of October 11, 2010.

The suspension is a result of the failure of ongoing attempts, dating back to 2007, to bring Blackberry services in the UAE in line with UAE telecommunications regulations.

Both telecommunications operators – Etisalat and du - were informed of the decision earlier today. The notification was delivered with an instruction to ensure minimal consumer disruption in the provision of alternative services.

All Blackberry services fall within the UAE regulatory framework developed by the TRA since 2007, however because of Blackberry’s technical configuration, some Blackberry services operate beyond the enforcement these regulations.

Blackberry data is immediately exported off-shore, where it is managed by a foreign, commercial organization. Blackberry data services are currently the only data services operating in the UAE where this is the case.

Today’s decision is based on the fact that, in their current form, certain Blackberry services allow users to act without any legal accountability, causing judicial, social and national security concerns for the UAE.

Commenting on the announcement TRA Director General Mohamed Al Ghanim said: “With no solution available and in the public interest, in order to affect resolution of this issue, as of October 11, 2010, Blackberry Messenger, Blackberry Email and Blackberry Web-browsing services will be suspended until an acceptable solution can be developed and applied.”

“We informed both Etisalat and du that providing the option of alternative services to ensure the continuity of service from October 11 to its subscribers – both individuals and organisations – is the most important priority.” he added.

“The TRA notes that Blackberry appears to be compliant in similar regulatory environments of other countries, which makes non-compliance in the UAE both disappointing and of great concern,” said Al Ghanim.

du statement on suspension of BlackBerry Services

We have been notified on August 1^st 2010 by an instruction from the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the UAE that certain BlackBerry services will be suspended starting October 11^th, 2010, says a statement of du.

BlackBerry Email, BlackBerry web browsing, social networking, and instant messaging services on BlackBerry devices that are supported as part of the BlackBerry service, will be suspended.

Customers will be able to continue using their BlackBerry devices for Voice, SMS, MMS and web browsing not using blackberry service as these services will remain unaffected. Other applications which do not use the BlackBerry services will also not be affected.

This is an important decision taken by the Telecommunications Regulatory authority and as a licensed telecom service provider we shall fully comply by this instruction.

Since a number of du customers are BlackBerry subscribers, du will ensure that it provides all its affected customers with an alternative solution that meets their needs with minimal disruption to their services.

In the coming days du will be making an announcement on the full plan and shall inform all customers on the implementation of this alternative plan.

As a reasonable service provider, we have an obligation to always act within the law and the regulations of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the UAE, while at the same time, providing our customers with the best possible service.

Etisalat statement on suspension of BlackBerry Services

Etisalat was informed today by the UAE Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) to suspend BlackBerry services providing email, web browsing, instant messaging and social networking from October 11, 2010 until an acceptable solution can be developed and applied which brings the BlackBerry services in line with the UAE’s telecommunications regulations.

This is an important decision made by the Regulatory Authority and we fully understand the legal and social considerations behind the decision.

Etisalat has an obligation to act within the law and the regulations of the TRA, while at the same time, providing our customers with the best service. Etisalat has a significant share of customers in the UAE for its mobility services, including BlackBerry customers and hence it is very important for us to ensure our customers enjoy continuity of services.

Etisalat’s focus at the current time is to make sure its valued customers experience continuity of mobility services. In line with its commitment towards its customers, Etisalat will soon be announcing a range of alternative mobility products and services for its existing blackberry customers.

Do you think certain Blackberry services allow users to act without any legal accountability?

1. When you achieve something, we feel like we do too. Men like to be part of a team, and we love it when our team, has a winning streak.
2. Guys will occasionally talk about feelings with each other but only if someone else brings it up.
3. We like watching chick flicks like Chocolat with you because we learn something. That doesn’t mean we won’t make fun of it behind your back.
4. Independent women are very sexy, but it’s nice to be needed .. as long as you don’t demand all our time.
5. Women have so many different ways of loving someone. We have to learn to train our emotions to work like that.
6. Sometimes we wait too long to call after a date because we’re scared we’ll mess things up or seem desperate.
7. Guys who always talk about how great they look are really insecure. Be wary of men who look in the mirror too much.
8. We get nervous about having sex with you for the first time too, especially if there’s been a lot of buildup to that moment.
9. We shove our feelings deep inside and never bring them up again. That’s why we don’t live as long as women do.
10. When we ask what you’re wearing, describe something sexy…even if you’re in a sweat suit.

Source: COSMOPOLITAN / JUNE 2010

Tulip Chowdhury

The glass holding contentment always seems to be half-full. You always want a little more and just don’t seem to get the perfect contentedness of the soul and so the glass is never full. The soul never leaves the body to wallow in the gutter and so we are content to a certain amount, but not fully. And that I suppose is human nature. Our curiosity, our wants always lead us on. Our noses in the air, we are forever sniffing to find out yet a little bit more of this contentment, our eyes is forever on the look out for undiscovered pleasure.
Contentment is considered to be fulfillment of a desire after which we may not want other changes. However at this stage contentment could be short lived. For the fulfilled desire is replaced by a new want. There is someone who won a lottery to become a millionaire. However the contentedness lasted only for half a day for soon the new desires were born, more wishes to enjoy the luxuries of the world took hold of the mind. The soul became restless till they were satisfied. The truth is that desires are inexhaustible. Being able to give our desires a rest might bring in momentary contentment. And then like a heaving ocean our restless soul will again cry for contentment of a different kind. However that would be very much depended on the will of the individual. Unless the will power to win over our desires is strong the state of contentment cannot rest in the soul. To be or not to be content depends to some extent on the will power of an individual.
The state of our living would affect our contentment to a great extent. The rich man’s contentment may be in the accumulation of his wealth and luxuries. His desires are very much different to those of a needy man. The latest car, a grand house, a bejeweled wife and children being raised with ease and comfort may bring contentedness for the rich man. However richness may fail to make a man content when he has everything and yet lacks love and affection from people. Here a needy man, though in wants of worldly goods may find contentedness in life if he is surrounded by loved ones. The attitude to contentedness differs from person to person.
Momentary contentedness may come for a chocoholic from having his or her favorite chocolate. For the workaholic being absorbed in work brings in contentedness while he or she is busy. An artist may be content while pursuing some creative work. The musician finds momentary solitude while music is there. However the soul goes on hayrides the moment the bliss of the moment has passed and seeks contentedness elsewhere. And yet there may be people who are content with life as it is.
As A. Pope says in his poem “Quiet Life”,
“Happy the man whose wish and care
A few paternal acres bound
Content to breathe his native air
In his own ground…..”
Happiness and contentment seem to reside side by side. When contentedness is there happiness resides in the same room. A content man may feel happy with his life. However like contentment, happiness too is often elusive. Contentedness calls for a man being pleased with the situation in life and not wanting changes. But it is our nature that when little contentment knocks on the door we want more of it. We want to keep the door open and we want it to be pouring in like the flooded sunlight. But our bliss is often momentary and as the sunlight fades, the bliss too wanes. Quite often we want changes and want to be content in other ways too. Or, we may want it in larger measure making our soul discontent in the process. Happiness too comes to us often with short notices. A childless woman may experience ultimate happiness when a child is born. However as the child grows up the mother’s demands for the child’s welfare grows by heaps and bounds. And so the mother’s soul loses its momentary contentedness. The focus changes for most people after they have obtained some contentment and settles for new wants. Contentment is like a growing tree, sprouting leaves and flowers and always growing, as if reaching for the sky.
A small child is content with his toys and candies. A youth will be content with the desires of his heart. A newfound love, music, friends or keeping up with the fashion will keep a youth feeling content. People in their middle ages tend to be more idealistic and focus their contentedness on living a righteous life. Age adds wisdom to life and as people age the ethical values finds more meanings. There is contentment that comes from helping the others. Bringing smiles to others always fills the heart with glad tidings. This is contentment of a different kind, more fulfilling. Life feels more worthy when we are able to make others content.
Out there are people who wait for the big bang to make them content. The truth is that small wonders can bring in contentment too. Just as little drops of water make the ocean, little bits of happiness can make us content. In fact people who are able to find their way to contentedness through small means usually are the happier lot. The way to contentment is a road that that branches along with the different paths of life. It is for us to pick up the pieces and be content with what life delivers to us. Contentment seems to come in packages, small and big. It is us, the ones to accept it all, including the wrappers.