Academics and researchers say they are increasingly seeing people who show addictive traits when away from the gadget nicknamed "CrackBerry".
The new device which appears not to be supported by any carriers at present is set to compete with smartphones from Samsung, LG and Nokia.
The new BlackBerry Bold is, according to the maker Research in Motion, a flagship smartphone with professionals and power users in mind. It is the first BlackBerry to support tri-band HSDPA high-speed networks around the world and comes with integrated GPS and Wi-Fi, as well as a digital camera and media management capabilities.
With a black exterior, satin chrome finished frame and leather-like backplate, the phone features a full QWERTY keyboard and half-VGA resolution colour LCD.
