Australian Mobile Operators Have Their Work Cut-Out For Them in Enterprise Mobility, Finds IDC

<p>NORTH SYDNEY, August 2nd, 2004 – IDC has just released the results of its 2004 Australian Enterprise Mobility End-User Survey, which gauged the status of Australian businesses' enterprise mobility deployments, drivers and inhibitors, current and future spending on enterprise mobility solutions, and critical solution provider attributes.</p>
<p>The survey, conducted in May and June this year involved 350 Australian business decision makers across all vertical industries, also probed preferred wireless technologies and ideal monthly wireless data charges, and mobile device operating system standardisation plans and preferences.</p>
<p>"Improved mobile workforce efficiency is the major reason driving Australian companies to adopt enterprise mobility solutions while the threat of hacking is the biggest fear factor," said Warren Chaisatien, IDC Senior Mobile &amp; Wireless Analyst.</p>
<p>The survey also yields the following key findings:</p>
<p>* While enterprise mobility projects are likely to utilise a combination of various wireless technologies, WLAN is singled out as the leading technology.</p>
<p>* Enterprise mobility plans are primarily put together by the IT department but Australian organisations tend to turn to IT hardware and network equipment vendors for the implementation.</p>
<p>* Mobile operators have their work cut out for them as cellular ranks low as the preferred enterprise mobility technology and Australian companies are not likely to turn to them when implementing enterprise mobility solutions.</p>
<p>* The mobile device operating system will remain fragmented as only one-quarter of organisations have standardised on mobile device operating systems.</p>
<p>* Mobile device vendors are key to enterprise mobility solutions in small businesses.</p>
<p>* Although most Australian firms prefer flat monthly charges for wireless data, as many as one in five remain unsure whether they would go for flat monthly fees or pay-as-you-go wireless data plans.</p>
<p>For press enquiries please contact:
Warren Chaisatien
Senior Analyst, Wireless and Mobile Communications
Email: wchaisatien@idc.com
Phone: 61 2 9925 2256</p>

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