Research: The realities of wireless working
Published: 24 Aug 2007 16:52 BST
Mobile applications: If bandwidth were no constraint
With the continuing rapid developments in network bandwidth, it was interesting to explore the applications respondents would like to have available on mobile handheld devices if bandwidth, cost and availability were no longer constraints.
The list of applications identified was long, and these applications have been broken down in the following sections into those in greatest demand (the key mobile applications) and a range of other applications for which demand was nevertheless still strong.
Key mobile applications
Tier 1 applications identified in terms of overall demand were widely available today. Email, voice, internet access, data communications, SMS (text messaging) and electronic calendars were all required by more than two-thirds of our respondents.
Tier 2 key applications were the requirement for GPS, instant messaging, mobile videoconferencing, database applications and a personal directory. Each of these was specified by between half and two-thirds of respondents.
The very smallest organisations saw less demand for a number of these applications, influenced by the number of contacts held and the applications in use within the small office environment. Lower demand was seen by this group for instant messaging, electronic diary and personal directory applications, as well as access to database applications.
Figure 4: Access to key mobile applications
Q30 Earlier in this survey you told us about the mobile applications in current use. However, assuming that there were no constraints on bandwidth, cost and availability, which of these mobile applications would you like to have access to within your organisation in the future? (multiple response)
Base: All respondents; Total: 371
Source: Rhetorik 2007
Although this analysis represents the overall requirement for these applications should the constraints be removed, perhaps greater insight can be obtained by comparing this latent demand with current use (questioned elsewhere in this survey) to identify those that are currently underachieving their potential.
Looked at in this way, the opportunities for increased usage by key applications fall into three broad categories, as follows.
1. Greatest benefit would be seen for:
- Mobile videoconferencing
- GPS
- Database applications
- Instant messaging
These applications offer the potential for very strong growth in uptake in the future. Approximately 30-45 percent of the respondent base could potentially be new adopters of these applications if the constraints were removed.
2. Some growth in usage is likely for:
- Internet access
- Personal directory
- Data communications applications
Around 10-15 percent of the respondent base could be new adopters of these applications under these circumstances.
3. Little effected by the constraints are voice and SMS applications, with no significant impact on current usage.
Previous
- Research: The realities of wireless working
- Video: Fifty percent of UK companies using 3G
- Wi-Fi: The next generation
- How companies are using wireless networks
- Will mobile WiMax transform wireless working?
- Vendorboard: What can super 3G do for your business?
Did you find this article useful?
9 out of 9 people found this useful
- Share this article:
