Quote:
Originally Posted by Skive
Clearly its not something that is going to come anytime soon, not until they bring out a more multimedia orientated device, since there just isn't the need for it yet.
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The 7100 is slightly more multimedia oriented, and I bet future devices would be even more multimedia oriented, so there appears to be a gradual evolution in that direction. Just as long as it doesn't compromise RIM's core business.
But I think this is a kinda necessary direction to go in. Real business examples. Real estates. Brokerages. Doctor databases. Construction GPS mapping. Video tours. You name it. (obviously, spinoffs such as MP3 and regular video playback will occur too as a side benefit to consumers, in the implementation of future faster BlackBerries and the ability to upgrade the BlackBerry flash memory). You need oodles of flash memory for these applications. Some of them had to go TREO solely due to memory reasons. Not yet, I agree with you Skive, but - bingo - even you seem to imply that it will be necessary in the future. ;)
A compromise is semi-permanent removable memory like RS-MMC or MicroSD. It's more treated like a memory upgrade module for a cellphone, put in like a SIM card. I never remove the card from my iPaq anyway, so a semi-permanent flash upgrade slot hidden behind the battery like a SIM card, is
definitely feasible, and simply could be encrypted to function only on
that BlackBerry. Remove it and put it in another BlackBerry, no workie. RIM security problem solved. All it behaves is acts like a memory upgrade, and the existing Content Encryption algorithm used for the builtin flash, could be extended to this semi-permanent memory card. I'd be perfectly happy with this. It'd only function as an upgrade for main flash memory, for extra programs and content you would otherwise put in flash.
Imagine:
Options->Status->"File Free: 516,882,680 Bytes"
And, completely as safe as the main flash memory because the flash card would simply be treated as a secure non-portable "memory upgrade" (content scrambled)
I have no knowledge of memory card plans, but from a geek perspective, I make a wild guess of the above, since it makes total sense for RIM to do this eventually, if viewed from this particular angle -- at least from a 2006 perspective. Competition will ensure that RIM is forced to provide at least a secure memory upgrade route.
Remember... Memory cards are NOT necessarily insecure temporary removable cards that can be plugged into a card reader. There is already a "upgradeable semipermanent memory module format"
called RS-MMC and MicroSD for cellphones --
these should essentially really be considered memory upgrades rather than memory cards.
It is simply user-installable flash memory. That's it. Think this way and you will agree with me that it's not a real security problem. It is possible to make these removable cards 100% as secure as the main flash memory -- According to an old post on this forum, the CIA has already opened up BlackBerries and tried to read the built-in main flash memory, to no success. It would be no different for user-installable flash memory, just easier to remove, that's it -- but no easier to encrypt or decode the data -- as in a stolen BlackBerry, for example.
All RIM needs to do is simply present this "user-installable upgrade memory" angle / point of view to the appropriate certification agencies and it shouldn't be that difficult. Don't think of it as a "memory card" - it's
not a flash media on a traditional "digicam" point of view - because of the way it would be implemented. Make users happy, make administrators happy. BES could be programmed to disallow it, so users couldn't install an upgrade. Memory upgrades could easily be cryptographically "signed" for a specific PIN code, so that only that particular flash module and that module, can function properly in that particular, specific BlackBerry. Portability between BlackBerries is not a feature that most power users want anyway (not me either). For switching BlackBerries, moving from one BlackBerry to another, would just be identical to the procedure for the builtin nonremovable flash memory -- restore everything through BlackBerry Desktop. No different procedure. The user installable flash memory would be just an extension of the main memory, treated exactly the same by the end user and system administrators.
I'd bet, 2006, I don't see a problem with RIM introducing user-installable flash modules (either in RS-MMC or MicroSD format which is smaller than a SIM card!)
Bottom line:
Memory upgrade modules ("flash media" used instead as a "memory upgrade module" using existing memory content encryption) for BlackBerry would be 100% safe. Absolutely zilch, zero, nada, NO SECURITY ISSUE, guaranteed - if implemented properly.