Business Owners Put Smartphones to Work
America’s small-business owners trump the average consumer in using smartphones, and they’re putting the gadget to work beyond e-mails and phone calls.
A third of all owners report thumbing away on smartphones compared with 26 percent of consumers, according to a recent survey from Discover.
[Related: How Mobile Grew in 2010]
“Small business owners are clearly paying attention to mobile-driven consumer trends and are looking for ways to adapt,” said Ryan Scully, director of Discover’s business credit card. “Being flexible and adaptable to a changing economy has helped small-business owners succeed through the years, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see new entrepreneurs push the limits when it comes to mobility.”
Only 3 percent of owners said they don't use their smartphones beyond calls and e-emails, while a third said “very much,” 41 percent said “somewhat” and 21 percent said “not much.”
Almost half of owners who use the devices want better business mobile applications to enter the market.
[Related: 5 Clever Apps for Entrepreneurial Minds]
Only 19 percent of small-business owners have taken or are currently taking actions to make it easier for consumers to access their businesses.
To learn more about mobile growth in 2010, watch this flashy three-minute video from wireless-technology advocate Mobile Future, which highlights the year’s mobile trends and showcases the growth in consumer mobile use across social-media platforms and applications.
- Mobile Users Demand the 411 on Local Businesses
- Shopping by Smartphone: The Wave of the Future in Commerce?
- Road Map to an App: How to Create A Mobile Application
Reach BusinessNewsDaily staff writer Brian Anthony Hernandez at Bhernandez@TechMediaNetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter (@BAHjournalist) and become his friend on Facebook (BAH Journalist) to interact or stay updated on news about small businesses.