Mobile email to become mainstream

Mobile working is in for a sharp upturn, with email the application leading end user demand. It will increase 14 per cent across Europe over the next 18 months.

According to the latest figures, around 40 per cent of all workers are spending the equivalent to a day out of the office every week, and already 29 per cent of them can access mobile email and seven per cent corporate information systems while on the move.

NOP Business carried out the research on behalf of Nokia, and also found some obvious areas leading the charge - field service workers, sales staff and senior management.

A Nokia spokesman said: "Senior management are roaring up, especially as they get access to light versions of applications such as SAP."

Although the survey of 2,503 European business users points to a sharp upturn, it doesn't highlight how many individuals are already using apps on mobile devices, taken to mean phones and PDAs rather than laptops for the purpose of the study.

Following email, the next most common uses are now 'contact lists', 'calendar', 'updated account and sales details' and 'task lists'. Functions such as 'real time parts procurement' and 'real time sign off of work' aren't yet common but are cited by a handful of respondents.

Among the barriers to mobile working, according to the report, those who just "did not perceive the need for mobile email yet" headed the list. Security concerns and return on investment considerations didn't figure, though they may well do as this market matures.

Report sponsor Nokia admits educating end users on using advanced devices - a selling point recently for some operators - and keeping services straightforward are key considerations in moving this market forward.

Large companies were generally found to be at the vanguard of mobile working.