BBM slowly returning, users cry for compensation

BlackBerry Messenger and other BlackBerry services such as email and Internet are slowly returning, according to maker RIM. But irate BlackBerry users are demanding the company to compensate them for the three days they spent offline.

On a page set up to keep users informed about repairing the thoroughly broken Web services, RIM said, "All services across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as well as India, have been operating with significant improvement.

"We continue to monitor the situation 24x7 to ensure ongoing stability. Thank you for your patience."

Warming words, but the service still isn't fixed, and an intermittent service you can't rely on is just about as useless as one that's permanently broken.

BBM has been offline since Monday morning, leaving BlackBerry-loving businessmen unable to organise powerbrunches, and IM-addled teens bereft of missives from their mates. Unsurprisingly users are asking whether RIM will compensate them for nearly a week of being unable to use data they've already paid for.

"I think everyone should be compensated, they're going to lose a lot of customers," said one commenter on our Facebook wall. "BlackBerry or our network providers should be offering some kind of compensation," says a dismayed user on an earlier story, while another hysterically writes, "I want to be compensated!! This is unacceptable!!"

When Sony's PlayStation Network was eventually restored after a long period of downtime earlier this year, gamers who'd gone without were offered free games and subscriptions to Sony services. Will RIM be extending any similar olive branches to disgruntled BBM addicts? Perhaps a free month's use of the service once it's restored, or some freebie apps, would smooth things over.

We've asked RIM, but there's no word yet. We'll keep you in the loop, in the meantime let us know what kind of compensation you think would be fair in the comments below or on our Facebook wall.