BlackBerries arouse resentment in some users

Melbourne, May 5 : Though they might be in vogue at the moment, BlackBerries also arouse resentment in some who use them, according to a new study.

The detailed study of 30 BlackBerry users was conducted in Australia and France, and was led by University of Sydney researcher Dr Kristine Dery.

"The BlackBerry is changing the way we work significantly, and offers organisations many more opportunities for future changes, but with the exception of time management training and email policies, companies give little thought to the impact of the BlackBerry,'' The Australian quoted Dr Dery, as saying. Although the handheld device is seen as more handy and mobile than laptops, some think it blurs the lines between work and personal lives.

In the study, some respondents said they felt "switched on to work" from the moment they left home in the mornings, with one person saying: "I don't read any more on the way to or from work."

Dr Dery said while most users accepted the benefits of the technology, they expressed a level of resentment towards it.

"Interviewees often spoke about the love-hate relationship they had with their BlackBerries," she said.

Blackberries had recently changed from being a senior management status symbol to a basic tool of trade, she added.

"Some companies felt they needed to be seen by competitors and customers as using the latest technology," Dr Dery said.

"But we found most organisations treated BlackBerries as an extension of the mobile phone, thus assigning the management of this technology to purchasing departments," she added.

She suggested that companies need to be aware of providing their employees with the opportunity to switch off.

ANI