CIOIN

In a global economy driven by speed and agility, competitive edge is intrinsically tied to the enterprise's ability to get information quickly and efficiently to workers, partners and customers, regardless of location.

This new reality is highlighted by a recent study, in which many respondents point to the expanding mainstream success of wireless technology as a key success factor to their ability to succeed in an increasingly mobile market.

"Organizations are discovering wireless technology's ability to successfully deliver vital corporate applications to knowledge workers in the field, on the road, or wherever they need instant access to information," says Kamal Anand, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Strategy at Meru Networks, a mobile solutions provider in Sunnyvale, Calif. "The increasing mainstream popularity of wireless tools underscores the point that companies have increasingly turned to this technology as an important tool in their quest to optimize business processes."

IDG Research Services, under Meru's sponsorship, recently queried 106 CIO magazine subscribers to gain insight into corporate plans to extend applications wirelessly. This summary report explores relevant market trends, with commentary from key respondents. The survey's key findings include:

* Companies are extending applications wirelessly to increase productivity, improve customer support and provide instant access to real-time information.

* Wireless technology is moving from heavy use in certain vertical industries to more mainstream deployment across industry sectors.

* Respondents report wireless technology as a major boost in increasing competitive advantage.