RIM's BlackBerry deal in India could encourage copycats

Analysts cited by Bloomberg paint a potentially troubling picture for BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM), which recently agreed to allow Indian authorities to monitor users' traffic in an effort to address regulators' security concerns. The action, according to analysts, could provoke regulators in other countries to demand similar concessions from a smartphone vendor keen on expanding its global reach. Indeed, RIM currently faces similar requests from the governments of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. For its part, RIM argues it maintains a "consistent global standard" for lawful access to its system, which "does not include special deals for specific countries." In the United States, law enforcement officials can gain access to communications, contingent on legal approvals. Article