JEDDAH: The BlackBerry PIN (BB-PIN) is becoming the latest way for young men and women in Saudi Arabia to court each other.
If the personalized number unique to each handset is given to a fellow user, BlackBerry owners can easily message or send e-mails to each other.
"With the current revolution in communications, the act of giving out your landline or mobile number to young men whom you might like has become obsolete. The BB-PIN is the fashion now," said one young woman who wanted to remain anonymous.
With BlackBerry devices gaining popularity in the Kingdom, especially among young men and women, it is not an uncommon sight to see BB-PINs written on car boots.
"I have my BlackBerry PIN written on a number of papers to hand out to women whenever I need to," another Saudi youth said, who also wanted to remain anonymous.
Saleh Al-Malki, a young Saudi, said though the trend of giving out BlackBerry PINs was still in its early stages, it was most appealing to girls because it allowed them to communicate with young men anonymously.
He said this was much safer than communicating using mobiles as the girl could break off contact with someone without being traced.
Al-Malki said many girls carry mobile phones that might be registered in their own name or their relatives and friends.
"Therefore, if a girl gives out her mobile phone number, there is a possibility that she could be identified. It is always safer to give a BlackBerry PIN," he said.
"For this reason, the BlackBerry has become a favorite device for the girls."
Bushra, a young Saudi girl, told Arab News she finds the BlackBerry to be a much safer way to communicate than mobiles or land phones.
"Most of the young men and women in the Arab world are eager to stay up-to-date with the latest communications technology. Whenever there is a new mobile phone in the market, they are keen to obtain it no matter how much it costs," she said.
Bushra said she had noticed BlackBerry PINs written on cars at universities and along the Corniche.
"Since many girls are looking for entertainment, it is much safer for them to have their PIN handy," she said.
Adil Habib, a social researcher at a boys' secondary school in Jeddah, called on parents and families to fight this new trend.
"Laws against writing PINs on cars must be issued. This fad must be banned, as it is like writing mobile phone numbers and e-mails on cars," he said.
Sheikh Fahd Al-Ghanmi, a member of the Commission to Promote Virtue and Prevent Vice, admitted not knowing much about the BlackBerry. He added the commission has set up a special department to deal with new communications technology.
"This department will study the BlackBerry technology and hand over men and women using it to the police on flirtation charges," he said.
A Commission spokesman told a local newspaper last week that members working in the field have the ability to deal with cases involving the misuse of BlackBerry technology.
Turki Al-Shelail said that when it is proved that an owner is using the technology to blackmail or pester someone else then action would be taken.
He added no device could be monitored or taken from its owner unless it was linked to an offense or complaint as stipulated by Saudi criminal law.
Al-Shelail also said that new technology in general is a concern of the Development and Training Department, which updates Commission members on the latest technologies and how to handle potential cases involving them. -- With input from Laura Bashraheel
By Muhammad Al-Sulami
© Arab Times 2010
