Blackberry and other
smartphone users in the US are beginning to rebel against their
always-in-touch devices.
Research finds many US users of wireless devices such as
Blackberry, Palm Treo and other similar smartphones
struggle with the blurring of boundaries between life and work.
The jury is split on whether devices such as Blackberry or Treo
liberate or chain people to their work.
The research, by Solutions Research Group, found that 33% agreed
with the statement “devices like BlackBerry chain you to work more
than they liberate you”. While 34% disagreed with the statement,
another 34% were neutral on it.
Though smartphones give users the ability to get work done
outside the office, the survey showed that owners were more likely
to work long hours, not less.
Among those who own a Blackberry or a similar device, 19% worked
for more than 50 hours a week, compared to an 11% average among
those who don’t have one.
And 53% of smartphone device owners agreed with the statement:
“I don’t have enough ‘me’ time”, compared to a 40% average among
those who don‘t carry such a device.
When asked to choose between time and money, 56% of those who
own a Blackberry or a similar device chose “time”, and 44% chose
money.
Over 2,600 Americans were polled for the research.
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