Cahners In-Stat Group Expects Proliferation of Handheld Computing Products in Next 2 Years

Business Wire, Jan 18, 1999

NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 1999--Cahners In-Stat Group expects that users of portable computing devices will increase usage of all types of handheld devices over the next 24 months.

The high demand verifies that the broad category of handheld products has come of age and Cahners In-Stat Group believes IT departments are not prepared for the scope of worker adoption on the horizon.

"Our new research findings indicate that workers who use or intend on using portable computing devices overwhelmingly endorse all types of handhelds, be they PDAs, handheld PCs or Smartphones," said Fran Firth, senior analyst for Cahners In-Stat Group's Mobile Data Service.

"As the volume of products increases, corporate IT departments will be forced to play a more predominant role in issues dealing with purchasing, budgets, product selection, service, support and security."

According to Cahners In-Stat Group, product vendors must also prepare for this demand. "The landscape is extremely competitive and not every entrant will survive," explained Firth. Vendors will need to manufacture multiple product models to accommodate the varying demands of IT departments and end users.

The report Handheld Computing Products Proliferate-Is IT ready?, no. MD9816MD, written by Fran Firth, is based on research gauging the demand and usage of portable computing products and services from both a corporate IT and individual user perspective.

The survey sample consists of corporate and individual users in a broad range of industries and job titles. To purchase this report or for more information on Cahners In-Stat Group's services, contact Linda Morganstern at 408/345-4449 (FAX: 408/345-4400, email: lmorganstern@cahners.com). Press may contact Fran Firth directly for discussions of the report.

Headquartered in Newton, Cahners In-Stat Group is a high-technology market research firm with comprehensive understanding of computer and convergence, networking, wireless, telecommunications, Internet, enterprise software and semiconductor markets. Offices are also located in Scottsdale, Ariz. and San Jose, Calif.

Cahners In-Stat Group, formed by the merger of In-Stat and Business Research Group, is part of Cahners Business Information, the largest publisher of specialized business publications in the United States, and a division of Reed Elsevier. Visit Cahners In-Stat Group online at http://www.cahnersinstat.com.