When the BlackBerry first appeared in 1999 it may have helped strengthen your case for entry into Heathrow’s First Class lounge. But now that almost everyone owns one, manufacturer RIM has had to create an exclusive Owners Lounge instead.

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The online lounge, RIM claims, provides a “VIP experience” for owners and will help jet-setting owners maximise their time. But what’s the point, when you already spend all day long delicately tapping emails out on the phone’s Qwerty keyboard anyway?

Well, there’s a selection of resources to help users get to grips with social networking and IM tools such as Facebook and Google Messenger. A so-called Exclusives area will also display offers and discounts on related hardware and software, while a news centre aims to keep you updated on all things BlackBerry.

Although there’s no executive washroom, users can customise the lounge according to their BlackBerry model, industry sector, usage and interests. You can apply for membership online and annual membership is free.