Today from Reuters
CHICAGO (Reuters) - BlackBerry addicts have a crack at
freedom when they check into one
Rick Ueno, general manager of the Sheraton Chicago Hotel,
said the program which began on Wednesday grew out of his own personal
BlackBerry addiction. His one-step recovery was switching to a regular cell
phone.
"I was really addicted to my BlackBerry. I had an
obsession with e-mail," he told Reuters. "Morning and night. There
came a time when I didn't think it was healthy ... I quit cold turkey."
He believes guests might want to try the same thing for a
day or two anyway, so they can concentrate on meetings, business and
socializing while at the hotel.
Ueno said he would take personal charge of any BlackBerrys
or related devices guests want to surrender and place them in his office locked
up until their return is requested. There is no charge.
"I run a hotel with over 900 employees and thousands of
guests. I think I'm more effective. I feel better. I sleep better. My family
likes it," he said of his post-BlackBerry life.
The popular hand-held devices, sometimes called
"CrackBerries" because users become so reliant on them, are made by
Canadian-based Research In Motion Ltd..
I should also go! Can't live without checking my Blackberry all the time :-(
Posted by: sabina | September 19, 2006 at 10:38 AM