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iPass Mobile Workforce Report Finds the End of Downtime as Smartphone and Tablet Usage Rise

iPass Mobile Workforce Report Finds the End of Downtime as Smartphone and Tablet Usage Rise

More than 60 percent of mobile workers sleep with their smartphone

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., — May 24, 2011 — iPass Inc. (NASDAQ: IPAS), a leading provider of enterprise mobility services, today published its quarterly Mobile Workforce Report. The report found an end to downtime, as 91 percent of mobile workers use their personal downtime to check their smartphones. Nearly 30 percent of mobile workers check their smartphone every six-to-12 minutes during downtime.

The report, which drew from the experiences of more than 3,700 mobile employees at 1,100 enterprises worldwide, also found 61 percent of mobile workers sleep with their smartphone; 43 percent within arm’s reach. This intimate relationship with the smartphone has led to 38 percent of mobile workers waking up to check their smartphone during the night and 35 percent checking email first thing in the morning – even before getting dressed or eating breakfast.

Significantly, 29 percent of mobile workers report that their mobile technology usage causes friction in their personal relationships — typically with a spouse or partner. The report also found that mobile workers, who sleep with their smartphone within arm’s reach, are 65 percent more likely to obsessively check it during downtime, and 10 percent more likely to report that their smartphone causes friction in their personal relationships.

“Mobile employees are taking advantage of being connected 24/7 to help them be more productive at home and work — working an average of 240 hours more a year,” said Steven Wastie, senior vice president marketing and product management at iPass. “While for some this is not without relationship costs, the majority of mobile workers are highly responsive, and ready to be engaged outside of traditional office hours. Mobile technology helps their companies stay competitive in a fast-paced and challenging business environment.”

The survey also uncovered:

  • The average mobile worker works 240 hours a year longer than the general population.
  • 94 percent of mobile workers have a smartphone. 41 percent of mobile workers have a tablet, and an additional 34 percent of mobile workers intend to purchase a tablet in the next six months.
  • 87 percent of mobile workers that own tablets use their tablets for at least some work. Among tablet owners, 27 percent have a tablet provided by their workplace and 73 percent have a personally owned tablet.
  • 58 percent of mobile workers who sleep with their smartphone within arm’s reach wake, at least occasionally, during the night to check it, and 11 percent wake every night.
  • Those living in Asia Pacific are the least rested with 55 percent of mobile workers waking at least occasionally to check their smartphone or tablet, and 19 percent wake every night. Europeans are the most rested with only 27 percent waking at least occasionally, and 4 percent waking every night.

 

About the Report

The iPass Mobile Workforce Report is published quarterly and based on a survey of more than 3,700 mobile enterprise employees at 1,100 enterprises worldwide between April 1 and April 15, 2011. The iPass Mobile Workforce Report can be found at www.ipass.com/mwr.

About iPass Inc.

Founded in 1996, iPass (NASDAQ: IPAS) manages mobile connectivity for large enterprises and global carriers through mobility and cloud services. With thousands of enterprise customers, iPass is a leading provider of enterprise mobility services which simply, smartly and openly facilitate access from any device on any network, while providing IT with the visibility and control necessary to support the demands of the enterprise workforce. iPass also provides in-country and international WiFi off-load and roaming services robust enough to support both the business and mass market requirements of telecom carriers. Additional information is available at www.iPass.com or on Smarter Connections, the iPass blog.