Agra: August 10, 2008 -  Tata Teleservices will launch the premium Blackberry mobile services in the next two months, although security concerns about the service remains, but promised to abide by the rules whenever the government firms them up.

"We have communicated to the government about our decision to launch the service and they have appreciated Tatas' approach to seek prior approval... but the company cannot be put to commercial disadvantage," TTSL Managing Director Anil Sardana said here.

Asked by when the services are expected to be available, Sardana said the soft launch of the service is already complete and a commercial launch will be announced soon.

The Blackberry service that allows users to send and receive e-mails just like text (SMS) messages has been under a security cloud ever since intelligence agencies raised concerns that terror outfits may use it to their benefit as content transmitted through it cannot be monitored in India.

The announcement is significant in the wake of Ministry of Home Affairs and security agencies questioning the non- availability of interception facility on Blackberry handsets. The Department of Telecom has asked Canada-based Blackberry licensor Research-in-Motion to place the server in India.

"Whatever policy is made on Blackberry, it will apply on us also," Sardana said, adding the company is going ahead with the service. As soon as logistic arrangements are in place the company will start offering the services.

Tatas' Blackberry services have been held up since last year. The company later argued that since others are offering the service, Tatas cannot be put to disadvantage.

Reliance Communications, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone-Essar are other telecom players who offer Blackberry services.