Know Someone Who Always Has Their Nose Burried in a Mobile Device?

 Richard Sweeny’s Blackberry Planet: The Story of Research in Motion and the Little Device that Took the World by Storm chronicles innovators Michael Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie.  It's the story of the company they built and the product that has not only made them billionaires, but also changed the way business is conducted. The title itself is tongue in cheek, as the Blackberry Storm is a popular and innovative model smart phone.

Prior to reading this book I had heard of Blackberry but didn’t think much of it. What’s another smart phone, after all? The market is cluttered with devices containing touch screens, web browsers, and all the latest gadgetry. I personally use a (sorely dated) Motorola Q, sans data plan—defeating a big purpose of the device, I suppose...

After reading Blackberry Planet I realized that the Blackberry is more than just another brand of smart phone. In a university communications class, Dr. Harry Sova always made sure to announce all cell phones, PDAs, pagers, and Blackberrys (according to the book, this is the correct spelling) must be turned off at test time. I thought he was just covering his bases. I didn’t realize that as a mobile emailing device, a Blackberry could be among the most notorious cheating tools.

In fact, this little device has reshaped the way we communicate and conduct business, and it also has been key in ushering in the new era of wireless technology that does so much more than make/receive calls.

Beyond the technical specs, Sweeny discusses the inception of Research in Motion (RIM), the Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) firm that is behind the Blackberry. He covers the lawsuits RIM faced in the early part of this decade as well as challenges posed by competitors like Apple's iPhone and Nokia. The author’s bias seems apparent as Blackberry Planet at times reads like an advertisement for the latest RIM creation.

Switching gears again, Sweeny delves into the “Crackberry” syndrome, discussing addictions, physical injuries, etiquette, and work/life balance issues the Blackberry has caused.  Younger and younger users are suffering reptitive stress injuries from too much texting.  Miss Manners' wisdom has been invoked regarding mobile etiquette and when it is and isn't appropriate to be tapping away on your gadget.  Family life and marriages can suffer as a result of the Blackberry providing an “always on” connection to the office.  (Marriages may also benefit from an app that allows the Blackberry to funciton as a sex toy.  This Canadian author has paid too much attention to fellow Canadian Sue Johanson!) For those suffering the worst from Blackberry-induced maladies, Sweeny gives plenty of Dr. Phil-esque advice, including information on “digital detox” programs.

In one final switch of perspectives, Sweeny concludes Blackberry Planet by getting highly technical. He discusses quantum physics and how the discipline will impact the future of wireless and computer technology. Such concepts are beyond Jetsonoid, and boggling to the average mind.

That said, Blackberry Planet is thought-provoking insight into the founding of wireless communications, and what the future holds for the medium. As a former student of communications theorist Marshall McLuhan (“the medium is the message”), Sweeny offers some interesting perspective on how as wireless expands, all aspects of communication—person to person, business to business, marketing communications—will need to adapt to this contemporary medium.

So after reading this book I have to admit, I want a Blackberry. That is, until I saw the price of one…Anyway, if you wish to read Blackberry Planet, it’s available as an eBook at Buffalo Library.