Research in Motion and the Indian government are in discussions over how security services in the country can be allowed to monitor e-mails and instant messages sent through the Blackberry communication network.

The Indian government ruled earlier that voice calls and text messages on the Blackberry Messenger will be permitted beyond August 31. However, New Delhi says that unless security agencies and the Canadian company create a deal over the best way to monitor electronic mail, emails sent using the BlackBerry corporate email service could be banned.

The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and a number of other governments have voiced their concerns on the possibility that terrorists and criminals are taking advantage of Research in Motion's heavily encrypted BlackBerry email system to send messages.

Research in Motion said that it has coordinated its efforts with governments and security services to find ways to monitor communications without violating the right to privacy of users.

"Discussions will continue for the week and the whole of the next week... BlackBerry services, including phone, SMS and Messenger will run, [but we are not sure yet] about enterprise mail," said a spokesman for the Indian government.

India is a critical market for Research in Motion. Estimates have the number of Blackberry users in India at 41 million. In order to avoid a ban on its corporate email services, Research in Motion has told the Indian government that it will come up with a monitoring solution by the August 31 deadline.