Research: Mobile working on the increase

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• Mobile Devices,
• Laptops,
• High Speed,
• Mobile Phones

Rhetorik ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 25 Sep 2007 09:59 BST

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Use of mobile devices
This section of the report is all about the devices themselves. We first questioned current and future use of a range of mobile devices by type. These were largely handheld products, but we also included laptops to ensure consideration of as wide a spread of key devices as possible. We next explored which types were valued most highly by their users, before looking at the user base across the main business functions. Finally, we measured agreement with a number of key statements of belief to get a better understanding of user perceptions about the use of mobile technology in these areas.

Current and future use by type of device
Simple mobile phones are used almost universally across the organisations in our respondent base and, where they were not reported, this was almost certainly due to replacement with multifunction products incorporating voice capability.

Laptops with mobile connectivity are also widely deployed. More than four-fifths of respondent organisations are already using these for applications both within and outside the office. There is still some potential for growth in number of user organisations, with a further six percent expecting to apply these devices over the coming two years.

Next in current use came BlackBerry devices, with 44 percent of respondents already using these within their organisations and a further 12 percent anticipating deployment in the near future.

A range of other handheld mobile communications devices incorporating mobile email followed in current use. These products encompass a breadth of additional functional capability. Around a third of all respondents are using each of these products and the popularity of email is apparent by their increasing penetration. A further 10 to 15 percent of the sample expects to deploy one of these technologies in their organisations over the next two years. Altogether, more than half of all respondent enterprises have one or more of these types of email-capable device.

Use of a basic PDA is still significant. Around a third of respondent organisations are using them but increased penetration is likely to be modest. However, PDAs with mobile voice and data connectivity are expected to see higher growth, but from a smaller base of user organisations.

Figure 4: Use by type of mobile device

Q3 Which of the following types of mobile device is currently in use by one or more members of staff for work purposes in your organisation? And which do you expect to be used in the near future (next two years)? (multiple response)
Base: All respondents; Total: 371
Source: Rhetorik 2007

Most valued mobile devices
When respondents were asked to select the mobile device they found most useful, the laptop with mobile connectivity came top of the list. More than a third of all respondents chose this as their favourite device.

A fifth of respondents preferred their basic mobile phone. Perhaps surprisingly, a PDA with mobile voice, data and email connectivity came next, even higher that the BlackBerry, despite the higher current penetration of BlackBerry across these organisations. The smartphone followed not far behind.

The smaller organisations were strong proponents of the basic mobile phone, with a third of these respondents favouring this device above all others.

Figure 5: Most valued mobile devices

Q4 Which of these devices do you personally find most useful for business purposes? (single response)
Base: All respondents; Total 371
Source: Rhetorik 2007

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