BlackBerry ban on hold for 60 days

India said it withdrew a threat yesterday to ban BlackBerry services for at least two more months after the device's maker, Research In Motion Ltd, agreed to give "lawful access" to encrypted data.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, which wants real-time access to encrypted corporate emails and instant messaging, said in a statement that it would review RIM's security proposals over the next 60 days after the Department of Telecommunications studies the feasibility of routing BlackBerry services through a server in India.

It remains unclear precisely what concessions Research In Motion made. About one million BlackBerry users would have been affected.