BlackBerry Backlash?

As the idea of a wireless nirvana picks up new momentum at 3GSM, with a slew of new products announced this week, a new research study finds many users of wireless devices such as BlackBerry, Palm Treo and other similar 'smartphones' struggle with the blurring of boundaries between life and work.

Among key highlights of the research is the conclusion that the jury is split on whether devices like BlackBerry or Treo liberate or chain people to their work. Some 33% of respondents agreed with the statement "devices like BlackBerry chain you to work more than they liberate you." 34% were neutral and the balance, 33%, disagreed. Surprisingly, among those who own a BlackBerry or a similar device, the results were not all that different: 34% agreed with the statement, 37% disagreed and 29% were neutral.

While smartphones give users ability to get work done outside the office, the survey showed that owners worked somewhat more, not less than average. Among those who own a BlackBerry or a similar device, 19% worked for more than 50 hours a week, compared to 11% average. Among owners of BlackBerry or a similar device, 53% agreed with the statement "I don't have enough 'me' time," compared to 40% average. Among women owners, a majority, 65%, agreed.

When asked to choose between time and money, 56% those who own a BlackBerry or a similar device chose 'time' and 44% chose money.

"Contrary to shiny happy ads suggesting we do more in less time, in fact, there is evidence to suggest that we simply do more, more of the time," said Kaan Yigit, study director for Digital Life America. "While being always on in a social context is a natural for young people, many of those in the 25-54 age group with families and corporate jobs are struggling with work-life blending. There is a need for the mainstream workplace culture to offer ways to counterbalance" added Yigit.

This information comes from Digital Life America, a syndicated consumer trend study. Between June and late September 2006, the research covered nationally representative samples of over 2,600 Americans by telephone (1,016) and online (1,600). The results cited in this release come from the online component and are accurate to plus or minus 2.4 percent, 19 times out of 20."

Posted to the site on 14th February 2007