Australian businesses 'clueless' on wireless strategy

Despite the now widespread use of mobile technology in Australian business, there remains an almost universal lack of any sort of strategy for wireless data within organisations.

A study conducted by IDC on enterprise wireless deployment in Australia uncovered the fact that over 90 percent of Australian organisations do not have a company-wide wireless data strategy.

The Australian Enterprise Mobile and Wireless Usage 2003 report also finds that the absence of corporate wireless strategies is supported by the lukewarm perceptions toward the importance of wireless technology among Australian decision makers, who still do not rank the ability to wirelessly connect employees, customers or partners as highly critical to their business operations.

IDC believes that part of the reason for this is that businesses are yet to realise the full potential of wireless in terms of the contribution it can make to business efficiency.

With companies paying for only a quarter of all mobile phones used by their  employees and spending on mobile services making up a mere 15 percent of their  overall telecom bills,  the Australian business wireless market is largely untapped and tremendous growth potential remains.

"Wireless today is still seen by businesses primarily as a communications platform," said Warren Chaisatien, IDC Senior Analyst for Mobile & Wireless Solutions research. "Australian companies have yet to realise the full benefits of wireless and they need help in taking the technology to the next level."

IDC  believes Australian wireless carriers and other mobile solution providers should  focus on the following activities to capitalise on the opportunities presented by business users:

·Position wireless as a business enabler with segment-specific marketingplans;

·Educate decision makers on how their organisation can take advantage ofwireless technology, how to formulate a coherent enterprise-wide wirelessstrategy, and how to evaluate mobile and wireless projects;

·Offer bundled complementary wireless and wireline solutions, whileleveraging small ISVs as well as Iarge IT vendors and systems integratorswhen selling mobile enterprise solutions; and

·Get involved in corporate wireless LAN deployments.

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