Love it, hate it, but you can’t ignore the Berry

Surprisingly, the proponents and opponents of the in-news BlackBerry are almost equally divided in the UAE, according to the Emirates 24|7 Poll. Those who claim that the phone is an inseparable part of their lives and work, accounted for 49 per cent of the respondents. However, just a shade lower at 44 per cent, the opponents say that they never really liked the gadget. But going by the response from readers – including the innumerable comments that each BlackBerry chapter in the saga has evoked on our website - it is clear that the BlackBerry has gained in branding in the country, the region and, perhaps, even the world. There was also a small segment of people – 7 per cent to be exact – who are poised to take advantage of the imbroglio and snap up the phones at cheaper prices, now that the demand is slumping. Retailers in the UAE have already withdrawn promotional offers and it appears a second-hand market in the product will soon get a strong showing in the region with other GCC countries too on the verge of getting tough with RIM, the Canadian manufacturer. The Poll: Are you affected by the TRA’s BlackBerry decision? Yes, it is part of my life now - 34 % Yes, I run my business with it - 15 % Yes, I can now buy one cheap - 7 % No, I never really liked it - 44 %