New AT&T Technology Poll Reveals 4G Smartphone Usage Up 70% Among Small Businesses, Tablets Deployed By More Than Two-Thirds of SMB's

DALLAS, March 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to the use of wireless technologies for small businesses, it's unanimous ... well almost. According to the just-released 2013 AT&T* Small Business Technology Poll**, which surveyed 1,000 small businesses nationwide, 98% of small businesses use some form of wireless technologies in their operations.  

On the device front, the poll revealed that more than half (56%) of smartphones used by small business employees for business purposes are 4G***, a 70% jump in usage from last year when only 33% used 4G smartphones. Nine in 10 (90%) of the businesses using 4G smartphones are satisfied with the speed.

Further, two-thirds (66%) of small businesses polled indicate that they could not survive – or it would be a major challenge to survive – without wireless technologies.

And while penetration of specific wireless technologies varies across small businesses, it's clear that small businesses nationwide are open to adopting the latest devices and solutions, including tablets and mobile apps.

"For small businesses today, wireless solutions have become part of their DNA," said Cathy Martine, AT&T Executive Vice President of Small Business Solutions. "With the ongoing growth of remote workforces and with virtual offices gaining in popularity, mobility solutions from AT&T are becoming more important than ever in helping small businesses work better, smarter, and faster."

In fact, more than four in ten (41%) small businesses report that all their employees use wireless devices or wireless technologies to work away from the office. Additional findings from the national survey of small businesses include:

Devices:

• More than two-thirds (69%) of small businesses surveyed indicate that they use tablet computers.
  • Results indicate that the larger the business, the more likely they are to use tablets, with 90% of those with 51 to 99 employees using them, compared to 69% of those with 50 or fewer employees.
  • Additionally, newer businesses are more likely to use tablets, with 80% that are less than 2 years old using them, compared to 69% of those two years and older.
• 85% of small businesses reported using smartphones for their operations, more than double the usage five years ago (42%).

Mobile Applications:

• Nearly one-third (31%) of small businesses surveyed use mobile apps, with top three reasons being to save time, increase productivity and reduce costs. 
• Slightly less than half (47%) of small businesses using mobile apps say they could not survive – or it would be a major challenge to survive – without them.
• Of small businesses using mobile apps, GPS navigation and mapping are by far the most popular with 74% of business owners using them, followed by location-based services (43%); document management (35%); social media marketing (32%); and mobile payments in the field (30%). 

For more information and additional results from the AT&T Small Business Technology Poll, please click on links to these infographics, one highlighting wireless use overall and the other mobile apps in particular.

General Information
For free business resources such as webinars, case studies, and best practices, visit the AT&T Small Business Solutions website. Additionally, real-time information and updates can be found on the AT&T Small Business Facebook page and AT&T Small Business Twitter channel.

*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.

** Methodology
The 2013 AT&T Small Business Technology Poll was conducted with 1,000 small businesses from 50 states and the District of Columbia from December 18-27, 2012. The survey was conducted using the ResearchNow online business panel with small business owners or employees, who are the key decision-maker for computer purchases and maintenance, Internet service and telephones (e.g., information technology). Small businesses were defined as having between two and 99 employees, both part-time and full-time.

***4G speeds delivered by LTE in select markets, or HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul, where available. Deployment ongoing. Compatible device and data plan required. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, 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.

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.

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.