Companies committed to wireless plans

Three-quarters of European companies will provide wireless applications to their employees over the next year, according to a survey.

The IBM-sponsored research found that companies across Europe want wireless services, but have yet to decide which technology to use.

Some 60 per cent of companies questioned believed that third-generation (3G) services will have an impact on the way they do business by the end of 2003.

But they are also looking at Global System for Mobile Communication, General Packet Radio Service, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System and wireless local area networks.

The survey was conducted by QNB Intelligence and involved 500 senior decision makers from 11 European countries.

Dale Vile, service director at QNB, explained that the results demonstrated that network operators are still feeling the impact of the 3G licence bidding process and roll-out delays.

"They need to reverse negative perceptions about network reliability and security and build management awareness before they can tackle the wireless data market," he said.

The study found that wireless data has a growing profile in Europe, with 13 per cent of mainstream businesses already rolling out wireless strategies.

A further 26 per cent are planning roll-outs, and most of the remainder are thinking about it.

Around three-quarters of organisations maintain that they will be providing wireless applications to their employees in a year's time, with the initial emphasis on email.

Business-to-business and business-to-consumer plans are currently running six months to a year behind.