IDC Predicts the Number of Worldwide Mobile Workers to Reach 1 Billion by 2011

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(Business Wire)--Pressure on companies to provide work/life balance programs for
employees combined with advances in mobile technologies is increasing
the number of mobile workers in the U.S. and around the world. By
year-end 2011, IDC expects nearly 75% of the U.S. workforce will be
mobile.

The current generation of workers is demanding more flexibility
and mobility in their schedules. They also have a higher comfort level
with technology in general, including remote access technologies and
mobile devices. The proliferation of high speed networks, widespread
public Wi-Fi hotspots, and fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) technology
now allows employees to work effectively from almost anywhere.

In addition to meeting the demands of today's workforce,
enterprises are deploying mobile solutions to meet both horizontal and
vertical industry needs driven by increasing business response time as
well as to help reduce corporate space (and leasing) requirements.
Organizations deploying mobile solutions enjoy a strategic competitive
advantage over their competitors who have not invested in integrating
mobility into their cultural roadmap.

"Although mobility deployments can bring a number of benefits to
companies, they also bring risks associated with sensitive data
sitting on small devices that can be easily lost," said Stephen Drake,
program director, Mobile Enterprise Services. "Developing a plan
around managing and securing devices should be part of any large
mobility deployment."

Regional comparisons indicate that the U.S. workforce has the
highest percentage of mobile workers at 68% in 2006. However, Japan's
penetration rates will increase the most during the forecast period
with mobile workers accounting for nearly 80% of the workforce by
year-end 2011, up from 53% in 2006.

The IDC study, Worldwide Mobile Worker 2007-2011 Forecast and
Analysis (IDC #209813), provides a worldwide five-year mobile worker
population forecast through 2011 and analysis across 3 major worker
categories and 13 subcategories in 5 regions: the United States,
Western Europe, Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan), Japan, and the rest of
the world (ROW).

For more information or to purchase this report, please contact
IDC Sales at 508-988-7988 or sales@idc.com.

About IDC

IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence,
advisory services, and events for the information technology,
telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT
professionals, business executives, and the investment community make
fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy.
More than 900 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local
expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over
90 countries worldwide. For more than 43 years, IDC has provided
strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business
objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology
media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by
visiting www.idc.com.

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trademarks of their respective holders.

IDC
Stacy Sudan, 508-935-4430
sksudan@idc.com
or
Michael Shirer, 508-935-4200
press@idc.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008