Have you been "Rimmed" recently?

Apparently, if you want to sell a handphone within Indonesia it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to have a Service centre in country to ensure it's repair when it inevitably malfunctions.

Last month, Research In Motion (RIM) manufacturers of the Blackberry fell foul of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology who slapped the Canadian Company with a ban on the sale of new devices. this was achieved by the Ministry ceasing to issue licenses for new Blackberry handsets.

As of this week ,Research in Motion, had not yet opened after- sales offices in Indonesia as stipulated in a 2008 ministerial decree on the IT community. The regulation states that all phone producers must open an after-sales office when they begin selling products in the country. 

Many in the Industry are while aware of the reason for this action are concerned abut the timing. 

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Telecommunication and Information Community (Mastel), a nonprofit organization representing the IT sector, questioned the timing of the regulation’s enforcement. “If we look at it from a regulatory perspective, then what the ministry has done is the right thing, but why now?” said Maswidyantoro, Mastel’s chairman. 

Ironically, this ban coincides with NOKIA unveiling their new N97 in country shortly ... now many are wondering if there could possibly be a connection? 

It is after all Indonesia, anything can happen......