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Mobile Devices Invade the Workplace of the Tech Savvy

International Data Group (IDG) (Business Wire) - 30 July 2013

Mobile Devices Invade the Workplace of the Tech Savvy

IDG Global Solutions survey finds work and personal use converge

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. & STAINES, UK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The adoption of mobile devices for personal use is well documented but less is known about their use at work. An IDG Global Solutions (IGS) survey found a growing overlap between home and work use among participants in 43 countries. Forty-one percent use their private smartphone for business while almost as many use a tablet (37%). Private/business tablet use ran as high as 59% in Asia Pacific and Latin America to 36% in North America and 29% in Western Europe. As for smartphones supported by an organization?s IT department, Asia Pacific and Latin America led the way followed by Eastern Europe and North America.

?Users expect an experience tailored for a mobile screen when they access content on the go, so mobile optimization will be important for both marketers and media companies.?

The 25,601 respondents to an online survey fielded from March to May 2013 said they rely heavily on both devices to read email (93%-94%) and download or use mobile apps (67%-71%). They are also actively seeking industry news and conducting research about technology issues and products (insert link to Work Usage slides Q 26 and 9). The questionnaire was posted to 120 IDG tech media sites worldwide that attract both consumers and IT professionals.

When asked if a tablet is their primary computer, respondents in Middle East/Africa led the way at 43% followed by respondents in Latin America and Asia Pacific at around 30% each. Users in North America and Western Europe came in at 19% and 18%, respectively.

Mobile Users are Serious Prospects

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On average, 56% of smartphone users use their devices to make purchases and 73% of tablet users make purchases with their devices, but in each case the vast majority buy personal products or services rather than those intended for work purposes. A few regional figures stand out: 75% buy with a smartphone in North America and 84% purchase with a tablet. In every region, a majority of tablet users said they have made a purchase with their device. At the information gathering stage, 33% of smartphone users click or interact with an advertisement and almost 21% do so on a tablet. ?Mobile and tablet are becoming the preferred media consumption devices and are relied upon as users move from research to purchase,? said Christina Carstensen, director, Mobile Strategy at IDG Global Solutions, based in the UK. ?Users expect an experience tailored for a mobile screen when they access content on the go, so mobile optimization will be important for both marketers and media companies.?

Many respondents currently without a tablet will not be so for much longer as 47% said they plan to buy one within the year.

?These findings should remove some of the doubt over the impact of mobile ads and the hesitancy to spend more on mobile marketing,? said Matthew Yorke, CEO, IDG Global Solutions. ?Markets outside the United States should not be ignored for both the fast adoption of mobile and as trendsetters for other countries.?

Mobile: a Gateway to Video and Information
Video viewing on tablets soared compared to that reported in last year?s IGS research.A full , 90% of respondents report watching videos on their tablets, up 24% over 2012. Ninety-one percent watch YouTube videos, 75% movies/TV shows, 47% how-to/training, and 40% videos/webcasts related to their jobs.

A mobile device is a gateway to information and entertainment. Users are reading news, conducting research, comparison shopping, and visiting vendor sites. And social networks play a prominent role as the third most popular use for both smartphones and tablets.

International Data Group
International Data Group (IDG) is the world's leading technology media, events and research company. Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, IDG products and services reach an audience of more than 280 million technology buyers in 97 countries.

IDG Communications' global media brands include ChannelWorld®, CIO®, CITEworld, CSO®, Computerworld®, GamePro®, InfoWorld®, ITworld, Macworld®, Network World®, PCWorld®, TechHive, and TechWorld®. IDG?s media network features 460 websites, 200 mobile sites and apps and 200 print titles spanning business technology, consumer technology, digital entertainment, and video games worldwide. The IDG TechNetwork represents more than 500 independent websites in an ad network and exchange complementary to IDG?s media brands.

With expertise in branding, lead generation, and social media marketing, IDG marketing services programs are strategically designed and implemented to influence technology vendor prospects worldwide.

A recognized leader in conference and exhibition management, IDG produces more than 700 globally branded technology and entertainment conferences and events in 55 countries.

International Data Corporation (IDC), a subsidiary of IDG, has more than 1,000 analysts who provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in more than 110 countries.

Additional information about IDG, a privately held company, is available at http://www.idg.com.

Trademarks and registered trademarks are owned by International Data Group, Inc. All product and company names are trademarks of their respective companies.

Contacts

IDG
Howard Sholkin, 508-766-5610
howard_sholkin@idg.com


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