Smart phone worry for managers and users

Traditional PDAs and devices such as the Blackberry from RIM are dominating many organisations' mobile data device strategies because of the lack of control smart phones and PDAs with wireless voice and data capability can lead to.

According to the latest end-user mobile devices research from IDC, 50 per cent of respondents count the PDA as their preferred mobile device. It is something that is bound to please many IT managers who have in many cases come to grips with issues surrounding synchronising devices with PCs and LANs.

"It is about control, from the IT decision-maker's standpoint," said Andy Brown, EMEA mobile devices programme manager at IDC.

Whereas a smart phone can be based on one of several operating systems, run different software for applications such as email and then have all manner of other software loaded onto them by an end user, a device such as a Blackberry is pretty locked down.

Brown added: "The 7100 Blackberry range is more phone than pager [in look] so it should be more attractive but RIM have been careful to leave off anything that gives a headache to the IT manager, such as a camera or Bluetooth for anything other than hands-free or a headset."

Smart phones, such as a number of Microsoft- or Symbian-based handsets or the Treo 600 and 650 from PalmOne, are selling in increasing numbers, mainly as replacement phones, but their complexity is a fear for IT departments and sometimes a drawback for some end users.

Separate research out today commissioned by Wacom Components finds around three-quarters of those with advanced handsets are finding features too complex to access and operate.

IDC's Brown, along with some others in the analyst community, says it may just be a case of more time being needed until organisations invest in mobile infrastructure and proper usage. He said that while the general mood towards IT spending is once again picking up, approaching mobile and wireless technologies to get their full benefit may take another year.