IDC: Global Mobile Worker Population Will Increase By More Than 200 Million Users Between 2004-2009

IDC is predicting that as organizations continue to implement mobile solutions, the mobile worker population will "increase from more than 650 million worldwide in 2004, to more than 850 million in 2009, representing more than one-quarter of the global workforce."

IDC found that the "United States had the highest percentage of mobile workers in its workforce in 2004, and is expected to reach over 70% mobile workforce penetration by the end of the forecast period." IDC segments the mobile worker population into three core categories; office-based mobile workers, non-office-based mobile workers, and home-based mobile workers.

Stephen Drake at IDC said, "Organizations deploying mobile solutions and suppliers delivering mobile solutions to customers should focus on emerging regions where mobility is taking off, especially in areas where mobile enterprise deployments may leap-frog much of the traditional wire-based technology."