Office workers using mobile technology

More than half of all office workers can access their computers even when away from their desks, a new survey revealed today.

Around 28% of workers are keeping in touch with their business by checking e-mail through mobile phones while almost a fifth are using their Personal Digital Assistants (PDA).

The survey carried out by Nokia Ireland and ElectricNews.net found that 61% of workers are now spending over an hour away from their desks while still keeping in touch.

Most workers said they e-mailed via mobile phones for convenience and one out of every 10 people admitted they had not known e-mail could be sent that way.

Jackie Brannigan of Nokia Ireland said: “This survey shows us that more and more business people today are relying on their mobile phones to gain access to corporate information and resources.”

The online survey, which was taken by 476 business people during April last, found mobile phone penetration among office workers was now at saturation point with 95% now using mobile phones.

Just over half of all workers have their calls paid by their employer but a third of business users said they had no choice in the handset model.

Business users said that battery life was the most important feature of a handset.

Only 6% of those surveyed said a camera was a must-have feature in a phone.

Sheila M Averbuch, editor of the online technology news site, ElectricNews.net, said: “As consumer research indicates, people will use these devices for a specific purpose. It’s debatable, for instance, whether there’s any value added by placing cameras in business phones.”