More than a quarter of mobile workers either plan to buy or receive an iPad in the next six months, just the latest signal Apple’s tablet device is being warmly welcomed by the business community. Just 6.9 percent of those surveyed said they plan to get a tablet PC.
The survey, taken in July by corporate mobility service provider iPass, queried 1,100 so-called “mobile workers” in North America, Europe, and Asia. A mobile worker is defined by iPass as anyone who uses a mobile device to access non-corporate networks for work purposes.
Having an iPad or tablet PC made it more likely mobile workers will want one for the job also. Of those planning to get an iPad for work over the next six month, 9.3 percent already own the Apple device, while 6.8 percent own a tablet PC.
Paying your own mobile phone bill also makes buying an iPad for work more likely, according to the survey.
The survey results mesh well with recent indications the iPad is being favorably accepted by corporations. Tuesday, a Wall Street Journal report showed an updated iOS with business-friendly features, coupled with a price tag below a traditional laptop is spurring enterprise IT departments to give iPads greater access.
Another survey, taken in June by Citrix, also mirrored that of iPass. Citrix, a corporate software company, discovered 80 percent of its business users plan to buy or use an iPad for work.
In June, Apple also announced more than 50 percent of the Fortune 100 are using or testing the iPad.
