Quarter of techies can use own iPhone for work

A quarter of techies can use their own iPhone for work with their employer's blessing, a new silicon.com reader poll has found.

The latest incarnation of Apple's touchscreen smartphone - the iPhone 3G S - launched earlier this month, selling more than a million units in its first three days, according to Apple.

But while the device has proved popular with consumers, enterprises have been slower on the uptake.

Just two out of 12 of the latest silicon.com CIO Jury panel said they are planning to offer iPhones as part of their range of corporate devices - a very marginal increase on a similar poll conducted back in 2007 when Apple's first iPhone launched.

However the latest silicon.com reader poll suggests Apple mobiles are creeping into business - by both front and back doors.

Asked whether their company will be offering the iPhone as a corporate mobile option, a fifth (19 per cent) of respondents said the device is already offered by their company as part of its mobile line-up, while a further six per cent said their organisation will offer iPhones "soon".

A further quarter (24 per cent) of respondents said their company supports the use of a personal iPhone to access work systems - bringing the percentage of those who can use an iPhone at work to around half.

However alongside the half who can, is another half who can't: 51 per cent of respondents said the device is not offered or allowed in their company.