The Dark Side, Join It I Have

Thursday, September 16, 2010
I've been a front line sales associate for my company for over ten years. During that time, I have fiercely resisted the temptation to integrate my mobile phone into my work applications. I never wanted to be one of those people - you know the ones. The ones who were constantly checking their Blackberries because THE WORLD IS CLEARLY GOING TO END IF THEY DON'T STAY TETHERED TO THE COMPANY NETWORK FOR EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY, INCLUDING VACATION DAYS. I never saw the point of that behavior. When I'm working, I try to give good value for the money my company pays me, but the idea of being constantly tethered to my e:mail and company phone number made my skin crawl.

But last night I finally relented and had my cell number changed to a Blackberry Storm with a data plan and this morning I put a request into IT to have my company's mobility application integrated to my number. But not e:mail. I still don't want my work e:mail to come to my personal mobile device.

::cue ominous music::


The reason I'm using the Smart Man's old Blackberry because this is a test. I'm counting on my meat friends to give me a good kick in the pants if I fail to maintain my boundaries with this new gadgetry, and if work starts to encroach on my downtime, I'll be disconnecting the damn data plan and the work application forthwith. If it turns out that I like having the integration, then I'll use my "free" upgrade and get the latest and greatest device.

Now get off my lawn...

12 comments:

The Mechanicky Gal said...

Awaiting your experiences with the MiFi thingy...!

Steve Buchheit said...

They made me take a crackberry at the day job. I didn't want it. They made me. I refuse to check it every ten minutes.

Phiala said...

I have an enforced boundary: I'm not allowed to check my work email from a non-government-owned computer. Which is a brilliant policy, but nothing to be done. Keeps me from responding while at home or on vacation, but also while travelling for work.

I have a MiFi thingy, the kind where you only pay when you need internet access. I find it most wonderful for travelling. I got it this summer when I had to spend a week in one of those hotels that charges 10-15 a day for internet, but still had to get work done. Extremely convenient, and I haven't had any trouble with it, except for some confusion setting it up.

Janiece said...

MG, I didn't get the MiFi thingy, because I only need to connect one PC at a time. I bought a USB modem, instead. Once I actually use it, I'll report.

Darren said...

I've never had a Blackberry, but I've tethered my iPhone to my work e-mail, calendar, etc.

It's very handy for when I'm at or near work, or commuting on the light rail. Fortunately, the iPhone makes it fairly easy to disable those features at night and re-enable them when I go back to work. That's been a big boon -- I get all the advantages of access to work resources, but in a way I can shut off so it won't bug me.

Perhaps the Blackberry has something similar?

John the Scientist said...

So what exactly are you connecting to, if it's not email? That's my major link to work, so oyu;re just connecting to your cmopany's intranet on the browser?

Janiece said...

John, it's a specialized mobility application that integrates a variety of systems to a mobile device. You'll forgive me if I don't give the brand name, as I don't want my work place to be linked to my personal blog.

Nathan said...

I've found that the most important thing about being so connected is that regardless of how little I've got to say, I have the means to disseminate it very widely at the drop of a hat!

:D

Janiece said...

Nathan, I can't wait to join you in your incessant blatherations.

Juan Federico said...

We, down in the trenches types, have had them for a few years now and I like it! OK, if I am off duty, on Vacation, etc. The damn thing stays plugged in and shut off on the counter. But I like the versatility of my smartphone. If it weren't for the tracking devices that we live with down here. ( play Harkonnen theme from Dune here)
I could see some serious hanky-panky bullshit going on with some of my peers. Now to have that shit put on to my personal cell? Horseshit.
So, my hat's tipped to you. Good luck wit dat. ;)

Anne C. said...

I have to admit, this week would have been easier if I'd had a smart phone link to my work. I've been out in the field all day, but coordinating emails and phone calls for lift rentals and work permits. For a couple critical days, I was toting around my personal Dell Mini 9 to check email from the coffee shop in the morning and at lunch. It's very light, but not as light as a smart phone!

Carol Elaine said...

I like smartphones. I do not like Blackberries. I played with a friend's Blackberry once and it drove me crazy.

I'll stick with the Android smartphones.