Data caps and connectivity challenges hinder mobile worker productivity

March 26, 2013 - PRLog -- REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., March 26, 2013: iPass Inc. (http://www.ipass.com/) , a leading provider of mobility services for enterprises (http://www.ipass.com/solutions/open-mobile/) and telecom service providers (http://www.ipass.com/open-mobile-exchange/), today published its quarterly Mobile Workforce Report (http://www.ipass.com/resource-center/surveys-reports/), which shows that while companies continue to embrace BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), connectivity issues are impacting productivity. Mobile workers have access to technologies that allow them to work from anywhere; however, more than half of all respondents stated they have problems connecting to Wi-Fi networks in key locations such as airports, airplanes and hotels. Mobile workers often experience limited and frustrating connectivity choices: an expensive one-time Wi-Fi “day pass” or costly mobile data services.

Forty-two percent of mobile workers agree that excessive charges and restrictions in monthly plans force them to limit their data usage, negatively impacting productivity. The report shows that a quarter of mobile worker respondents expense back their mobility costs and fifty-four percent would pay for a Wi-Fi roaming plan. However, even with all these challenges, Wi-Fi remains the connectivity option of choice for nearly two thirds of all mobile worker respondents.

“We are seeing that mobile workers are becoming more cautious about exceeding data caps and deliberately limiting their data usage, which is hindering productivity,” said
Evan Kaplan, chief executive officer, iPass. “Clearly, enterprises that provision mobile workers with devices, or leverage a BYOD strategy, need to ensure that workers can connect when and where they want, and work on-the-go as cost-effectively and productively as possible.”

The corporate BYOD trend that allows employees to leverage their own personal devices for work continues to grow. Sixty-two percent of mobile workers stated they already use their personal smartphones. Seventy-two percent believe their personal devices should be enabled for work purposes. Consistent with this trend, the report suggests there is a growing diversity in the types of devices that mobile workers use.

The report also shows a distinct trend in the mobile device of choice. While in 2012 laptops were the preferred device for mobile workers, the top choice is now an iPhone. Only 12 percent of mobile workers named laptops and notebooks as their preferred mobile device. Even MacBooks, which are typically viewed as a desirable high-quality device, experienced a decline. This change could be attributed to the fact that more corporations are embracing BYOD. As more organizations continue to implement BYOD, workers are carrying fewer devices, likely because fewer people have an IT-provisioned device in addition to a personal device. The report states that mobile workers are carrying 2.95 devices on average, compared with 3.5 in 2012.

Upon further analysis of device choices, our report shows that the Samsung Galaxy and Windows 8 tablets are starting to gain momentum in the tablet market. Twenty-eight percent of mobile workers stated they plan to own a Samsung Galaxy tablet within the next six months. Seventeen percent of workers say they will have a Windows 8 tablet within the same time period.

For more statistics and findings, please visit http://www.ipass.com/resource-center/surveys-reports/

About the Report

The iPass Mobile Workforce Report (http://www.ipass.com/resource-center/surveys-reports/) is published quarterly. This report was based on a survey of more than 1,600 mobile enterprise employees worldwide between January 17, 2013 and February 8, 2013. The iPass Mobile Workforce Report can be found at www.ipass.com/resource-center/surveys-reports/

About iPass Inc. (http://www3.ipass.com/about)
iPass helps enterprises (http://www.ipass.com/solutions/open-mobile/) and telecom service providers (http://www.ipass.com/open-mobile-exchange/) ensure their employees and subscribers stay well connected. Founded in 1996, iPass  delivers the world’s largest commercial-grade Wi-Fi network (http://www.ipass.com/mobile-network/) and trusted connectivity platform. With more than one million Wi-Fi hotspots across 111 countries and territories, iPass gives its customers always-on, frictionless connectivity anywhere in the world – simply, securely and cost-effectively. Additional information is available at www.iPass.com or on Smarter Connections (http://www.ipass.com/blog/), the iPass blog.

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iPass® is a registered trademark of iPass Inc. Wi-Fi® is a registered trademark of the WiFi Alliance. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners.

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Kristin Bleier

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Email: pr@ipass.com

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Leila Hajaj, Spark Communications

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