AT&T Survey Shows Mobile Apps Integral to Small Business Operations, Remote Workers on the Rise, Facebook Use Growing Rapidly

DALLAS, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Small businesses are increasingly reliant on mobile applications, Facebook pages for their companies, and employees working remotely via wireless technologies, according to the AT&T* Small Business Technology Poll. More specifically, the national survey of small businesses with two to 50 employees revealed that:

• Nearly three-fourths (72%) indicate they use mobile apps in their business, with roughly four in ten (38%) reporting they could not survive – or it would be a major challenge to survive – without mobile apps
• 41% of small businesses surveyed have a Facebook page for their business, representing a 52% jump from last year
• Four in ten (40%) small businesses report all their employees use wireless devices or wireless technologies to work away from the office, a 66% jump over the past two years.
• One-third (33%) of small businesses indicate they are using cloud-based or software as a service solutions, while another one-third acknowledged they do not know what is meant by these technologies

Mobile Applications: Mobile applications are becoming crucial for small businesses, with nearly four in 10 (38%) businesses surveyed saying they could not survive – or it would be a major challenge to survive – without mobile apps. With nearly three-fourths (72%) of small businesses surveyed indicating they use mobile apps for their business, the driving force behind this widespread adoption is time savings, increased productivity and reduction of costs. Moreover, GPS/navigation and mapping mobile apps are by far the most popular, with nearly half (49%) reporting they use them for their small business.

Remote Workers: Four in ten (40%) of small businesses report that all their employees use wireless devices or wireless technologies to work away from the office. This is up from 24% in 2008 and is expected to grow to 50% by 2012.

Cloud-based and Software as a Service: The AT&T survey also found that one-third (33%) of small businesses indicated that they are using cloud-based or software as a service solutions, a solid adoption rate despite the nascent nature of these services. But cloud solutions are not nearly as critical to small businesses just yet as other technologies, with less than one in five (17%) saying they could not survive – or it would be a major challenge to survive – without these technologies. Moreover, despite recent headlines and media campaigns, nearly one-third (32%) of small businesses surveyed acknowledged they do not know what is meant by cloud-based or software as a service solutions.

Facebook: Considering there are more than 500 million active Facebook users, this year's survey found a significant increase in small businesses that have adopted this social media channel as a business tool, with 41% reporting they have a Facebook page for their business. Usage is up from 27% in 2010, representing a 52% jump in just one year. Additionally, of all businesses reporting that they utilize social media, 41% responded that they've seen measurable success – in terms of better communications and relationships with new and/or existing customers – with these channels.

Wireless Technologies: Ninety-six percent (96%) of small businesses use wireless technologies. In fact, nearly two-thirds (64%) of small businesses surveyed said they could not survive — or it would be a major challenge to survive — without wireless technology.

"From mobile apps and smartphones to Wi-Fi hotspots and cloud-based services, AT&T enables small businesses to be more productive, efficient and successful on their terms," said Lori Lee, AT&T senior vice president of Small Business Marketing. "We expect adoption of these technologies to continue to increase in coming years, especially surrounding mobile apps and cloud services, so we'll remain focused on providing innovative solutions on these fronts going forward."

Regional Variations: Based on responses to four factors – perceived importance of wireless, use of wireless technology, use of mobile apps, and percentage of employees using wireless to work away from the office– a Wireless Quotient, or "WiQ," was calculated for each of the 12 markets surveyed. Each component was weighted in the rankings. For example, use of wireless technology was viewed as more important than the perceived importance of that technology.

Last year, Atlanta and Oklahoma topped the rankings for highest "WiQ." This year, Miami and Atlanta lead the pack with full rankings for the 12 markets as follows:

For more information and additional results from the AT&T Small Business Technology Poll, including market variations, please visit http://www.att.com/smallbizsurvey

Small businesses looking to find information about other AT&T products and services can visit AT&T Small Business. For free business resources such as webinars, white papers, training, case studies and best practices, they can visit AT&T Small Business InSite.

Additionally, real-time information can be found on the AT&T Small Business Facebook page and Twitter channel.

Study Methodology

The results of the "AT&T Small Business Technology Poll" are based on an online survey of 2,246 small business owners and/or employees responsible for Information Technology (IT). Specifically, 1,012 surveys were completed by small businesses located throughout the United States (National data) and 1,234 surveys were completed with small businesses located in 12 markets – about 100 in each market (Market data). The sample of participating companies was drawn from e-Rewards' online business panel of companies. Small businesses were defined as having between 2 and 50 employees, both part-time and full-time. Eleven of the 12 metropolitan areas are based on DMAs (Designated Market Areas). The other market is the state of Oklahoma. The online survey was fielded in December 2010.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.  This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz  to discover more about our small business services.

© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE AT&T Inc.