London riots said fueled by Blackberry (Really?)

After the outbreak of the "Arab Spring," the spotlight fell on the role played by Twitter and Facebook. Many argued that the social network services played an indispensable role, providing the organizing oxygen to an uprising that challenged the security apparatus of one authoritarian regime after another.

London riots raise concerns about 2012 Olympics

But which technology network - if any - became the main communications hub over the weekend when some London neighborhoods erupted in violent protest against the police? Some bloggers on the scene quickly offered a suggestion - but it's not any of the usual suspects. Instead, they write, it's the BlackBerry BBM messaging network.

The prime reasons? "It's fast (naturally), it's virtually free, and unlike Twitter or Facebook, it's private," wrote Londoner Jonathan Akwue, who pointed out that messages about the shooting had been circulating on the network since last Thursday. Another vote in its favor: RIM-based communications ostensibly are harder to track by the authorities.

A blogger at  TechCrunch followed by noting that "BlackBerrys are high functioning phones but can often cost less than smartphones like Androids or iPhones, which are typically the choice of Twitter users due to the wide range of client applications. And remember, Androids and iPhones don't run the free BBM network, and no other group messaging app has yet taken hold in the UK. As a result BlackBerrys have become the weapon of choice of Britain's disaffected youth."

Interesting, but  all this is speculative given the complexity and fluidity of current events. This much, however, is certain: After seeing its luster ebb recently, Research in Motion, the maker of the Blackberry,  is back in the conversation. Clearly, though, it's not the sort of word-of-mouth advertising that management wants.

[Zann-Zel]

Wait someone just got thru telling me that they were "civilized" over there! So wonder why people are protesting against the police?

[credibility2]

The depraved and derelict criminal element will always find a way to commit their anarchy and crimes. Foremost, they're uncivilized and haven't a right to exist.

[barbaram99]

People have rioted before computer,cell,blackberry. Every device can be tracked. They rioted before we had tech devices. People of all skin colours riot. That is right. I am poor.
They riot over the dumbest things and issues. They riot every where. What makes no sense it the matter in which they do so. There are alot of us below the poverity line. What makes no sense is they damage other people's things and take what is not theirs. Where will they live once they burnt out where they live. Even if they shut down services -they will still riot. It is the poor vs the rich. How should it be handled..

[tsigili]

There are some real issues about ethnicities, involved in this, and the media, up to now, has published little to nothing about that.

[mrmxltplk]

Some people think Armageddon will start out with America against China. I say it might be Christians against Muslims. These Muslims go into a country where they are a minority then try to convert that country into its way of thinking. I hope they don't try it in the United States. There are many citizens, soldiers, and paramilitary groups in this country that believe in the Bible and a Christian God, not the lies told in the Koran.

[Martha12345]

Wish I could afford a Black Berry> I'm just a working stiff.