17/09-03   -   Pressmeddelande

Nordic Companies Seeking Out Mobility Solutions, Says IDC

Nordic companies are trying out a number of technologies to support their mobile workforce, and, according to a new IDC survey of 400 IT managers in the Nordic region, WLAN and GPRS are expected to see the largest increase in take-up, with 13% to start using the technologies within the next two years.

"The strong interest is a very positive sign that mobility is being taken seriously," said IDC Nordic Consulting Manager Mette Ahorlu. "However, the number of technologies tested in many countries also indicates a significant uncertainty and we believe vendors have an important role to play to sort out this out and help build sound business cases around mobility. We believe that the many options are actually confusing and are slowing down the market, so vendors that can show when and where to use which solutions have a major opportunity. Branding is certainly an opportunity in this market."

According to the study, it is a new development for companies to focus on communication investments and advanced solutions. So far, most of the focus on telecoms has been around operators and their price offerings — who can give the best price for a combination of connections and traffic. The survey shows a more mature attitude towards telecoms — that it can be used to support the business and increase efficiency, improve communications with customers, and restructure working processes. Mobility has become a top management issue — a necessity but also a challenge for top management and vendors.

"Top management in companies throughout the Nordic region seem ready to take up the challenge. Now it is up to the vendors to follow up and bridge the gap between technology and business," said Ahorlu. "Companies seeing the potential gains are willing to invest, but many need good advice before they are ready to open their purses."

The survey highlights market developments by industry, country, and company size. It also analyzes the buying criteria and preferences in the choice of solution partners.

The mobility analysis is part of a study series analyzing IT spending, outsourcing patterns, and storage usage and plans in the four Nordic countries based on a survey carried out in August 2003.

The survey, Nordic Enterprise Survey, 2003: Mobility — A New Vendor Opportunity, is available to purchase from your local IDC office or on www.idc.com.

For more information contact
Mette Ahorlu
+45 39 16 22 22
mahorlu@idc.com

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About IDC
IDC is the premier global market intelligence and advisory firm in the information technology and telecommunications industries. We analyze and predict technology trends so that our clients can make strategic, fact-based decisions on IT purchases and business strategy. Over 700 IDC analysts in 50 countries provide local expertise and insights on technology markets. Business executives and IT managers have relied for 40 years on our advice to make decisions that contribute to the success of their organizations.

IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading technology media, research, and events company. Additional information can be found at www.idc.com# # #