Australian businesses embrace mobile devices: Report

Australian businesses are increasing their spending on mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets and support, according to a new IDC report.

Key findings from the report, titled BYOD in Australia: Results from 2012 Continuum Survey, finds that 49% of enterprises polled are increasing their spending on mobile devices during 2012, while 45% would keep spending at the same levels as last year.

The growth in spending comes off the back of a tremendous growth in mobile devices, with a 10% year-on-year growth rate for smartphones in the first-half of 2012, along with a remarkable 119% year-on-year growth rate for tablets.

The report also finds that Australian businesses are taking numerous approaches to mobile devices in the workforce, with some businesses banning employees using their own devices at work at one extreme, while others provide stipends towards employees purchasing their own mobile devices at the other.

Businesses supporting a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) strategy also vary in the amount of support provided to staff.