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The advent of the BlackBerry among entrepreneurs has increased that amount of work conducted outside traditional business hours, a study has revealed.

According to a Sensis e-business report, half of all entrepreneurs 'occasionally' responded to emails outside hours using their BlackBerry, and a further 40 per cent use the device when not at work 'most of the time'.

However, respondents had mixed feelings about the increased usage of the device, with 30 per cent favouring its flexibility and an equal 30 per cent feeling that it cut into their personal time.

Commenting on the findings, report author Christena Singh says: 'Whether we believe these devices benefit or impede our lifestyle, it appears we have a hard time turning them off.'

She adds: 'Just over half said they never turn the devices off, with a third turning them off only over the weekend. In fact, about half said they would be reluctant to give up the device.'

Research by AOL into the use of the BlackBerry reveals that 53 per cent of people use their handheld in the bathroom and 59 per cent use the gadget while in bed.

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