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Blackberry users complain on Twitter of fresh crash Blackberry users complain on Twitter of fresh crash
(40 minutes later)
  
A few hours after Blackberry maker RIM said all services were "operating normally" users have complained of a new crash.A few hours after Blackberry maker RIM said all services were "operating normally" users have complained of a new crash.
Twitter is full of angry users reporting renewed issues with their handsets and an inability to send messages and email.Twitter is full of angry users reporting renewed issues with their handsets and an inability to send messages and email.
The initial blackout saw Blackberry services across Europe, the Middle East and Africa disrupted.The initial blackout saw Blackberry services across Europe, the Middle East and Africa disrupted.
The problems now seem to have spread to Latin America as well.The problems now seem to have spread to Latin America as well.
One tweeter summed up the mood of many: "Blackberry server down AGAIN?!!! you have got to be kidding me!!!!!"One tweeter summed up the mood of many: "Blackberry server down AGAIN?!!! you have got to be kidding me!!!!!"
Many called on the phone firm to "sort out" the problems and get the network running again.Many called on the phone firm to "sort out" the problems and get the network running again.
RIM acknowledged that it was still experiencing problems.RIM acknowledged that it was still experiencing problems.
"Some users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, India, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina are experiencing messaging and browsing delays," the firm said in a statement."Some users in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, India, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina are experiencing messaging and browsing delays," the firm said in a statement.
"We are working to restore normal service as quickly as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.""We are working to restore normal service as quickly as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused."
Server crashServer crash
The crash comes only a few hours after RIM had issued a statement which said all services were now "operating normally".The crash comes only a few hours after RIM had issued a statement which said all services were now "operating normally".
That blackout left millions of users without email, web browsing and messaging services following the crash around 11:00 BST on 10 October. That blackout left millions of users without email, web browsing and Blackberry Messaging (BBM) services following the crash around 11:00 BST on 10 October.
The cause is believed to be due to server problems at RIM's Slough data centre.The cause is believed to be due to server problems at RIM's Slough data centre.
Details about what caused the stoppage are scant. In its statement RIM apologised for the inconvenience but gave no further information about the genesis of the problems.Details about what caused the stoppage are scant. In its statement RIM apologised for the inconvenience but gave no further information about the genesis of the problems.
Blackberry users around the world began reporting problems with their handsets mid-morning on 10 October and at 14:42 BST, Blackberry UK sent out a tweet which said: "Some users in EMEA are experiencing issues."Blackberry users around the world began reporting problems with their handsets mid-morning on 10 October and at 14:42 BST, Blackberry UK sent out a tweet which said: "Some users in EMEA are experiencing issues."
The "issues" left many Blackberry owners only able to text and make calls.The "issues" left many Blackberry owners only able to text and make calls.
Serious outrageSerious outrage
Many corporate customers said they had not lost service, suggesting that the problem was with Blackberry's BIS consumer systems, rather than its BES enterprise systems.Many corporate customers said they had not lost service, suggesting that the problem was with Blackberry's BIS consumer systems, rather than its BES enterprise systems.
"Blackberry runs two infrastructures," explained Simon Butler, a Microsoft Exchange consultant at Sembee."Blackberry runs two infrastructures," explained Simon Butler, a Microsoft Exchange consultant at Sembee.
"The understanding I have is that the BIS service has crashed."The understanding I have is that the BIS service has crashed.
"The business side runs on a different set of servers, although enterprise Blackberrys can still use messenger and the consumer services, so they are also affected," said Mr Butler."The business side runs on a different set of servers, although enterprise Blackberrys can still use messenger and the consumer services, so they are also affected," said Mr Butler.
Such a major failure will still come as unwelcome news to Blackberry's owner RIM, which has been losing market share to smartphone rivals - in particular Apple's iPhone.Such a major failure will still come as unwelcome news to Blackberry's owner RIM, which has been losing market share to smartphone rivals - in particular Apple's iPhone.
Many corporate clients have switched to the device after Apple made a concerted effort to improve its support for secure business email systems.Many corporate clients have switched to the device after Apple made a concerted effort to improve its support for secure business email systems.
"If you have got companies that are shifting their allegiance to other players in the market and you stop being able to provide them that concrete, reliable service, then that's going to have a detrimental effect," said Stuart Miles of Pocket-Lint.com. Malik Saadi, principal analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media said RIM would have to resolve the problem quickly : "The current situation with the BlackBerry outages couldn't come at a worse time for RIM, following some harsh criticism in recent months," he said.
The first signs of trouble emerged about 11:00 BST but seemed to have escalated with tags about Blackberry and its BBM service trending on Twitter. Such crashes may lead RIM and others to "re-evaluate their reliance on centralised servers and instead look to investing in more corporately controlled servers", he added.
In an early report, the Daily Telegraph quoted one Twitter user as suffering "serious Blackberry outrage". But he thinks customers will stick with the firm despite current frustrations.
Others lamented the loss of the free BBM network saying they did not know what to do without it. "It will take more than just a couple of collapses to persuade loyal consumers of BlackBerry services to look for alternatives," he said.
Many of those complaining about the crash said on Twitter that they couldn't live without access to BBM.