SMEs torn between tech convenience and tyranny

Stephen Withers
Monday, 20 August 2007 15:01

Your IT - Mobility

SMEs and consumers are torn between the convenience of BlackBerries and other mobile devices, and the overload that comes from being constantly on tap.

The annual Sensis e-business survey found approximately 30 percent of people believe the devices allow them to balance work and life better or to have flexibility to work away from the office, while a similar number find constant calls and emails intrude into their personal lives.

"A staggering four out of 10 people said they respond to emails outside of work hours most or all of the time," said report author Christena Singh.

Part of the problem seems to be an inability or unwillingness to find the on/off switch: just over half said they never turn the devices off, with one third turning them off only over the weekend.

Takeup of such devices is still quite low, with five per cent of individuals and 11 per cent of SMEs currently using them. But opinions are also divided about how attached they are to their devices - 49 percent of users said they were either definitely or somewhat unwilling to give them up (30 percent would never consider doing so), while 42 percent are very willing or somewhat willing to dump their devices.

The Sensis survey predicts takeup will double over the coming year, with another four percent of consumers planning to get a mobile email device.

The survey covered 1800 SMEs and 1500 consumers around Australia.