Corporate - Mobility costs

Mobile Devices Requiring More Time, Resources from IT Departments, CompTIA Poll Finds

Two-thirds of respondents cite BlackBerry mobile voice and data device.
Today’s IT professional is no longer dealing with a handful of computers and printers networked in a single location

Information technology (IT) departments are spending more time and resources supporting mobile communications and computing devices, and the BlackBerry is the device of preference for most organizations, according to the results of a recent web poll conducted by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA).

Nearly two-thirds (65.7 percent) of the 816 individuals who participated in the poll said their IT departments are spending more time and resources supporting the BlackBerry than any other comparable device. Pagers placed a distant second in the CompTIA web poll, at 10.9 percent.

“Today’s IT professional is no longer dealing with a handful of computers and printers networked in a single location,” said John Venator, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA. “They’re dealing with a plethora of devices that connect the headquarters to a mobile workforce, at-home teleworkers and satellite offices half a city or half a continent away. The ability to access applications and data from virtually any location is a powerful tool that enhances efficiency and productivity. But to take full advantage, organizations must employ IT professionals with a broad base of skills and professional certifications.”

IT professionals were asked which mobile device their IT departments spend the most time and resources supporting. Other mobile devices mentioned included supporting include digital music players (4.5 percent), handheld computers (4 percent), personal digital assistants (2.9 percent), cell phones (2.6 percent), iPhones (2.3 percent), laptop computers (2 percent), smart phones (0.5 percent), and tablet PCs (0.5 percent).