Businesses Look to Mobile VoIP

Seventy percent of businesses plan to be using VoIP regularly on their mobile devices over the next two years, according to research by Coleman Parkes; this is up from 27 percent who are currently using it. The research, published by Mformation Technologies, shows that businesses are not only increasingly using data applications on mobile handsets but are also using a greater variety of applications. Mobile email, internet and calendar applications are already pervasive, with more than 90% of companies using them, and businesses are also set to significantly increase the use of sales force applications and company file share systems.

However, the research also revealed that CIOs feel that in order to realise business benefits such as increased productivity there is a need for better management of mobile devices and applications.

"Mobile devices are becoming even more 'smart' with the capability to do anything from using VoIP, to business applications such as calendars and push email," commented Matt Bancroft, vice president, Mformation. "We've reached the point in the market where mobile business applications are tried and tested and now people are really starting to use them. However this raises an interesting challenge for CIOs in terms of management. While IT departments have the solutions in place to manage business applications that reside on laptops or PCs, doing this on mobile handsets presents a far greater challenge; for example, they'll need to start thinking about how to deploy applications, patches and updates over the air."

Sixty-seven percent of managers already use mobile devices regularly and that is set to increase in over half of the companies questioned. Comparatively, only about 35 percent of employees below manager level currently use smart devices regularly, though this is expected to increase in three out of four companies. However, this growth will rely on the roll out of device management, so that corporate IT departments can have the same visibility and control over the use of smart mobile devices as they do with laptops.

"Smart phones are fast becoming as important to the business user as laptops. Business people want to be able to use the same applications that are available on their laptops on their smart phones, and this is quickly becoming a reality," Bancroft continued. "With 81% of the CIOs surveyed reporting that they have already seen significant productivity increases from their current mobile investments, and nearly one-third of them indicating huge (more than 20%) productivity increases, it is clear that the use of business applications on the move will continue to grow as access is given to employees at all levels."

One major factor that businesses see as crucial in being able to keep improving productivity through mobile technology is the ability to manage smart devices effectively. In fact, 82 percent of companies believe that the ability to manage devices more effectively would lead to a higher increase in productivity. Furthermore, 79 percent of those questioned believe that it is the responsibility of the operator to improve network and device management. It is this management that will enable them to get the most out of these devices.

"These statistics highlight how important it is for operators to offer effective mobile device management. With good support, new mobile applications will see a much higher take-up. Businesses need support with any technology they roll out and this is no different with mobile devices; it's a great opportunity for operators to provide a value add and access new revenue streams through new applications," concluded Bancroft.

The research questioned 200 CIOs of enterprise companies across the UK, Europe and the USA."

Posted to the site on 4th July 2007