Last updated on January 22, 2015

Contributing to the ongoing net neutrality debate, BlackBerry CEO John Chen shared his company’s observations in an official blog post, where he also brought attention to the discrimination BlackBerry users face from Apple and other content/application providers like Netflix.

According to Mr. Chen, net neutrality should not be limited to telecom network carriers and policy makers should also consider the internet as a whole, bringing both content and application providers within their purview as well.

This, he believes, would result in true neutrality, where consumers get complete access to any legal form of content or application, regardless of the operating systems they use.

Adding further, the CEO who has brought BlackBerry back from near death, wrote,

Unfortunately, not all content and applications providers have embraced openness and neutrality. Unlike BlackBerry, which allows iPhone users to download and use our BBM service, Apple does not allow BlackBerry or Android users to download Apple’s iMessage messaging service.

He then went on to discuss Netflix, which has also ‘discriminated against BlackBerry customers by refusing to make its streaming movie service available to them’. Pointing out the market duopoly of Android and iPhone, Chen criticized the current ecosystem where users of these devices have access to far more content and applications compared others (like BlackBerry OS).

BlackBerry’s own messaging client BBM became available on both iOS and Android in 2013 and saw record downloads from users of these operating systems. Consequently, Chen would like some reciprocation from them in the interest of a truly ‘free, open and non-discriminatory’ internet.

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While Mr. Chen’s comments may have been in a good spirit, a lot of people are quoting them as desperate calls for trying to force the government machinery into lending a helping hand to a sinking ship.

Regardless of what BlackBerry stands to gain from such neutrality in terms of content and applications, what is your own opinion regarding this? Do you think governments should place restrictions on ‘exclusive’ content reserved only for certain platforms or operating systems? How do you think that will affect application development and overall competition in the industry?

You can read John Chen’s original post here.