A woman uses a BlackBerry in Jakarta. (Photo: Afriadi Hikmal, JG)

Indonesian Government Lifts Ban on New BlackBerry Imports

The Indonesian government ended a two-month freeze on issuing licenses for new models of Research in Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry device after the Canadian company opened a service center in the Southeast Asian country.

As of today, RIM regained its right to apply for certification for new models, Gatot Dewa Broto, a spokesman for Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Informatics, said by phone.

"They've completed all requirements we asked," he said.

Indonesia's communications ministry in June halted licenses for sales of new BlackBerry models pending the opening of a local branch office with after-sales service.

RIM on Aug. 21 opened its authorized repair center in Jakarta which is able to repair all models of BlackBerry sold through RIM partners in Indonesia, RIM's spokeswoman Katie Lee said in an e-mailed statement today.

About 500,000 Indonesians are now listed as BlackBerry users, compared with 100,000 at the end of 2008, and the figure will likely increase to 1 million by the end of December, Gatot said.

Bloomberg