Wed Jun 7, 4:58 PM ET

CHICAGO (Reuters) - BlackBerry addicts have a crack at freedom when they check into one Chicago hotel: the manager will put the communications devices and others like them under lock and key for guests who want a break.

Rick Ueno, general manager of the Sheraton Chicago Hotel, said the program which began on Wednesday grew out of his own personal BlackBerry addiction. His one-step recovery was switching to a regular cell phone.

"I was really addicted to my BlackBerry. I had an obsession with e-mail," he told Reuters. "Morning and night. There came a time when I didn't think it was healthy ... I quit cold turkey."

He believes guests might want to try the same thing for a day or two anyway, so they can concentrate on meetings, business and socializing while at the hotel.

Ueno said he would take personal charge of any BlackBerrys or related devices guests want to surrender and place them in his office locked up until their return is requested. There is no charge.

"I run a hotel with over 900 employees and thousands of guests. I think I'm more effective. I feel better. I sleep better. My family likes it," he said of his post-BlackBerry life.

The popular hand-held devices, sometimes called "CrackBerries" because users become so reliant on them, are made by Canadian-based Research In Motion Ltd. (Toronto:RIM.TO - news) (Nasdaq:RIMM - news).

you beat me too this! I was just getting ready to post the article.

Me too! It showed up on my Google page. I didn't get the format for the news post right anyway.

Steve

how many blackberry 'addicts' would take him up on that? i mean, if you think about it, that's kind of like asking a crack head to surrender his pipe for the weekend... not sure that's gonna work out for him lol

i got a little shaky just thinking about not be able to get to my bb.

Yeah that's the one thing clearly missing from the article.

How many guests, if any, have taken him up on the offer so far?

indeed, they did leave that out. Also something that i myself left out: the Wife factor. How many wives hear about this then make their husbands give it up?

I don't have a problem...really...I can quit anytime I want...seriously...wait, why are all of my family and friends sitting in my living room?

To paraphrase Mark Twain: " Sure, I can give up or quit using my blackberry. I've done it hundreds of times"

This was featured on the Today Show this morning.

Why would I want to give my BlackBerry up for any length of time....why why why why!!!!! Plus, with a name like Rick Ueno, would you trust him with your BlackBerry...he'll be calling porn lines on it in no time!!!!

I wouldn't be able to go to that hotel. I get nervous whenever it's out of my reach for a few minutes, especially if it's on the floor and I don't know it yet.

I'd try it. But that's not to say I wouldn't wind up forcing my way back into his office 4 minutes later and beating him until I got my BB back...

-B

LOL. That's good!! 4 minutes is a start.....

Don't often want to mention something harsh, as it can be taken the wrong way, but since there will be the time that we undoubtfully will leave from this earth to meet our creator or move on to the place up above, it would be interesting to see how many people would want to be buried with their BlackBerry?

Nope- I would want mine to be passed on to someone deserving as part of my legacy.

There's no chance I'd hand mine in, I'd strap mine to the inside of my leg and smuggle it in first.

dang i missed it...who did the story ? matt lauer ? hes got one and
has said before on the show that he loves his and his family HATES
it...

dang i missed it...who did the story ? matt lauer ? hes got one and
has said before on the show that he loves his and his family HATES
it...

I've just made it to the BlackBerry world, and was amused to see this article. Not sure if you all have seen this already, but there is a whole range of videos, etc at YouTube, including one about a "CrackBerry Intervention"

Given the limitations of this forum for newbies to post, the URL has been broken down (just remove the spaces):

http :// www . youtube . com / watch?v=VYAIlGg7nbo

This sly hortel manager admits he is an addicted BB user, and now he wants to "store" for safekeeping all the guests' personal blackberrys?????

Is that somewhat like asking an alcoholic to hold your whiskey for you? I can see him now in his office with his door closed and his secretary holds his calls: all the blackberrys in a pile on his desk, ferverishly typing away...

What kind of fool does he think we are?

I saw it on Fox News. They asked him how many people had taken him up on the offer and he said that no one had. LOL!

That just proves how addicted we really are. We all need to spend a couple of hours outside every now and then without any sort of communications device.

How fitting is that?!?! I guess the time had to come huh? Lol I love it!

- Definition .