| Unified communications is making it increasingly easy | | | | many people already have a unified communications |
| for workers to accomplish their duties via mobile | | | | device. I believe the U.S. and Europe will see future |
| device. Whether using a hosted VoIP PBX, another | | | | growth in the mobile UC worker base but adoption |
| form of business VoIP, or some other service | | | | will most likely slow simply due to the already |
| supporting a UC device, the sheer size of the | | | | extensive expansion. However, this does not mean |
| predicted mobile worker base is astounding. | | | | that potential does not exist for new, and better, |
| IDC supplied the following information in a recent | | | | devices to hit the market and gain sales. Look at |
| statement. Essentially, mobile workers are predicted | | | | what the iPhone did when it hit the streets; it |
| to reach a shocking 1.2 billion by the end of 2010. But | | | | created an entirely new demand. This just means |
| be careful to pay attention to the regional growth. | | | | that tons of people in the U.S. and Europe are |
| The driving force behind the growth is the emerging | | | | already working with mobile devices, I know I am... |
| markets of Asia/Pacific and the regions use of unified | | | | It is important here not to confuse unified |
| communications (UC) technologies. According to the | | | | communications with hosted VoIP PBX and business |
| analysts, the mobile workforces in the U.S. and | | | | VoIP. While hosted VoIP is a part of unified |
| Europe have peaked. The U.S. is described as having | | | | communications, the markets in this instance are |
| a highly concentrated mobile workforce, but that by | | | | largely separate. This report is discussing mobile |
| 2013 over 75 percent of workers will be described as | | | | workers booming in Asia/Pacific and maturing in U.S. |
| mobile in some way-that's 129 million people. Compare | | | | and Europe, but it is not commenting on the services |
| that to Asia/Pacific figures, and you'll see why IDC is | | | | that will be supporting those mobile workers. As we |
| saying the real action won't be in the U.S. By 2013, | | | | know from past reports, the forecast for the VoIP |
| about 37 percent of Asia/Pacific workers will be | | | | market is excellent. |
| described as mobile, and before you say that | | | | When it all comes down to it, what does this all |
| percentage sounds smaller, it is actually 734.5 million | | | | mean? Well, it means that in the Asia/Pacific about |
| people! | | | | 734.5 million people will be working from mobile |
| So as we can see, this growth can largely be | | | | devices by 2013. It also means that by 2013 over 75 |
| attributed to Asia/Pacific markets adoption and | | | | percent of U.S. workers (or 129 million people) will be |
| utilization of smart mobile devices. The report also | | | | described as mobile in some way. Overall, the report |
| states that United States and European markets | | | | is only confirming what we already know. As time |
| have matured in this regard. | | | | progresses, we will be able to get more accomplished |
| I believe this synopsis to be true, U.S. and European | | | | from our mobile devices, and professionals will take |
| markets have most likely matured to a point where | | | | advantage of this. |