HSBC has introduced a business banking service designed specifically for BlackBerry handsets, reflecting the popularity of the devices among business users.

The free service, available at www.m.hsbc.co.uk, enables customers of HSBC's business web banking service to monitor their account via a BlackBerry, and is optimised for the display of the BlackBerry 8000 series.

According to HSBC, users can view real-time balances and transactions for the past seven days on sterling accounts, and the balance of foreign currency accounts.

For business and commercial credit cards, customers can see the balance and seven days' worth of transactions.

Users need to supply a unique code as well as their username and password for extra security. This code is generated by a separate device supplied by HSBC and carried by users.

Noel Quinn, head of commercial banking at HSBC UK, said that business customers need to be able to manage their money on the go, and that by providing a service specifically optimised for BlackBerry, customers will be able to spend a greater proportion of their time focused on running their business.