United States President Barack Obama cannot live without it and now, neither can some youngsters in Singapore.
The BlackBerry, a smartphone which allows users to use phone functions as well as e-mail and applications like Facebook, is becoming popular among the young, although it began life as a corporate tool.
Singaporeans in their late teens have been seen clutching the smartphones, which is also giving the Apple iPhone a run for its money.
Polytechnic student Nicholas Han, 18, for example, bought a BlackBerry Curve for $300 with a MobileOne plan six months ago.
He wanted a phone that looked different and had many features. 'The interface is very useful and effective and my friends are quite impressed,' he said.
Smartphones were first launched by StarHub in May 2003 and are now sold by all three service providers, who said that they have noticed the BlackBerry's growing popularity.
StarHub chalked up double-digit growth in the sales of the BlackBerry devices and service plans between 2007 and last year. It declined to give numbers.
'The popularity of online instant messaging service and social networking applications that are now available on BlackBerry devices has definitely helped fuel the adoption by young people,' said Mr Ng Long Shyang, StarHub's head of consumer sales.
Mr Gregory Wade, Asia-Pacific regional vice-president for BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion (Rim), a Canadian company, said there has been a shift towards smartphones by youth.
The number of young people using BlackBerrys as consumers has also grown worldwide.
In fact, the number of consumer users accounts for almost half the total users worldwide - about 45 per cent of BlackBerry's subscriber account base, said Mr Wade.
There are about 21 million subscribers globally.
The smartphone device was launched 10 years ago for corporate users, particularly professionals who needed information on the go.
It recently got a plug when Mr Obama, who was sworn in last Tuesday as the new US President, said that he was dreading the prospect of having to give up his BlackBerry once he takes office.
His aides are concerned about his e-mail security, and that his correspondence could be subjected to subpoenas under the country's laws.
But last week, he was finally able to convince his security advisers to let him keep his handheld device to stay in touch with a select group of staff and friends.
Young people who own BlackBerrys listed convenient communication and constant access to e- mail as reasons for owning the device.
National University of Singapore business student Jonathan Loh, 24, has had a BlackBerry Bold for seven months now.
'It saves me time because I can check my e-mail on the go and when I'm bored on the train I chat with my friends on MSN,' he said.
'But it can be a bit of a nuisance to be so connected all the time, especially when I'm out with friends or on a date,' he added.
He pays an additional $30 on top of his phone bill for four megabytes of data usage, but got the device free with a 12-month plan with StarHub.
Undergraduate Ritchie Goenawan, 22, has both the iPhone and the BlackBerry but finds the BlackBerry has a more professional image.
'The iPhone looks cool but I'm thinking long term. If I get used to using it now, it will be easier when I'm in the corporate world,' he said.
Rim is riding on this trend. The company plans to launch an online BlackBerry application centre and BlackBerry application store worldwide in the next few months, which would appeal to young people who can download new applications.
Consumers in Singapore will be able to access it.
'Gen Y is a very important component for us and a huge market opportunity,' said Mr Wade.
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