Via The3gportal.com

In an interview with ZDNet’s David Berlind, BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion’s co-CEO Mike Lazaridis explains why BlackBerrys do not offer 3G modem capability through Bluetooth radios

“BlackBerries can serve as 3G modems,” Berlind explains, “but not through their Bluetooth radios. Instead, a USB cable is required.”

“In our phone call, Lazaridis acknowledged the existence of other devices on the market that do things the Blackberries do not,” David adds. “But in the same breath, Lazaridis is unapologetic for what he says is a deliberate design decision. Lazaridis argues that his company has remained focused on the needs of its customers who are primarily from the business, government, and military sectors.

“Those customers, says Lazaridis, are very sensitive to security and still see Bluetooth-based networking (used to wirelessly turn a handset into a 3G modem) as a potential vulnerability,” Berlind adds. “Lazaridis says RIM’s customers are still concerned about previously reported vulnerabilties such as bluesnarfing.

“For this reason, not only does the company not offer the networking profile of Bluetooth on its devices,” Berlind notes Lazaridis is pointing out that RIM “gives enterprise IT departments the management capability to disable the Bluetooth radios altogether (thereby disabling the BlackBerries’ built-in support of Bluetooth-based wireless headsets).”

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