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One-fifth of small businesses “could not survive” without mobile

Mobile and wireless technologies such as smartphones, Wi-Fi hotspots and laptop data cards are becoming more important for small-business owners, according to the “Small Business Technology Poll” from AT&T.

More than one-fifth of respondents said they could not be in business at all without wireless technologies, and a further 43% claimed it would be a major challenge. That makes mobile and wireless critical for about two-thirds of small businesses.

This reflects the increase in use of mobile and wireless tech among small businesses over the past two years. AT&T found that while one-quarter of respondents reported the same usage as in 2007, 74% of small businesses relied on wireless at least somewhat more.

This reflects the increase in use of mobile and wireless tech among small businesses over the past two years. AT&T found that while one-quarter of respondents reported the same usage as in 2007, 74% of small businesses relied on wireless at least somewhat more.

That dependence is set to increase, according to small-business owners’ plans for the next two years. Nearly three-quarters of respondents plan to up their use of mobile and wireless technologies, including 37% who say they will use the services “much more.”

That dependence is set to increase, according to small-business owners’ plans for the next two years. Nearly three-quarters of respondents plan to up their use of mobile and wireless technologies, including 37% who say they will use the services “much more.”

Small businesses’ top uses of laptop data cards and Wi-Fi hotspots were for checking e-mail (done by more than eight in 10 respondents) and surfing the Web (57%) on the go. Smartphones were used slightly less for those purposes but were of course vital as mobile phones (91%).

“Wireless technology is a critical business tool that allows mobile workers to stay in touch with colleagues and customers, and to access company data on the move,” said Timothy Doherty, associate research analyst for SMB Mobility, IDC, in a statement. “Reliance on wireless technology will only increase, as growing adoption of mobile business applications among small businesses drives the need for fast, reliable connectivity.”

For complete story and data charts go to e-marketer.com

  Mobile Phone is greatest change for the better

Americans looking back at the end of a decade have little love for trends such as reality TV, they are generally positive when evaluating the most basic technological and communications advances that have affected their lives, according to the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

Respondents had the overall best view of cellphones, which 69% claimed were a change for the better. Sixty-five percent said the same of both e-mail and the Internet.

Other, more advanced handheld devices, such as BlackBerrys and iPhones, were also relatively popular, though one-quarter of respondents thought they were a change for the worse. Unsurprisingly, younger adults were more likely to be positive about the rise of smartphones, while users over 65 were more evenly split.

Online shopping was slightly less likely to be seen as a good development, at 54% of total respondents. But when it came to e-commerce, 24% of consumers said it made no difference—and younger adults disliked it at more than twice the rate of seniors.

Adults ambivalent about social networking sites

“No difference” was also a major factor in consumer views of the marketing darling, social networking sites. Adults of all ages were notably ambivalent about the sites, though nearly one-half of those under 50 had a positive impression. Despite wide uptake in recent years, the largest group of respondents over 65 did not know enough to say whether social networks were good or bad.

Even active users of social media have registered mixed feelings of the medium with other researchers, however. Crowd Science reported that more than one-half of female users ages 12 to 21, for example, thought they spent too much time with social media.

Printed with permission of E-Marketer; to see data tables, go to E-Marketer.com.

 The portability of content from device to device represents the future of media consumption. But the device market is constantly shifting, due to changing consumer preferences and an evolving electronics landscape. Device manufacturers, marketers and publishers alike are challenged to make content available where, when and how their end users want to consume it—and that is anywhere, anytime and on any device.

“Even as the landscape evolves, the market for portable electronics is growing unabated,” said Noah Elkin, eMarketer senior analyst and author of the new report, “Always-On Devices and Networks: New Opportunities to Reach Consumers.”

Morgan Stanley expects high-speed wireless Internet-enabled device shipments to more than double worldwide between 2009 and 2013. Other researchers agree that the device market will continue its upward trajectory.

“From their in-home television and entertainment networks, consumers have grown accustomed to an on-demand culture,” said Mr. Elkin. “The combination of always-on devices and networks is helping extend that culture outside the home. For the transition to be successful, devices must provide a good user experience, and content delivery needs to be immediate and seamless.”

Netbooks in particular have struck a chord with buyers, especially attractive in a year of financial belt-tightening. DisplaySearch data shows netbooks were the only portable PC segment to see year-over-year revenue growth worldwide, rising a strong 264% from Q2 2008 to Q2 2009.

But e-readers, smartphones, media players, gaming devices and “tablet” PCs (including the ever-elusive Apple tablet device) are also a major part of the fast-changing world of content without walls.

“Multiple devices, numerous access modes and shifting consumer preferences mean marketers and content owners cannot afford to put all their eggs in one basket,” cautioned Mr. Elkin. “Until formats and device platforms get more established, multimode, multidevice support remains a must.”

Printed with permission of e-marketer. To see the complete article with data tables go to emarketer.com.