iPhone finds favor with business users

Wireless carriers offering the iPhone may be concentrating their efforts on consumers, but research suggests they shouldn't neglect business users, who apparently love the touch-screen interface.

The Apple device beats the competition hands down when it comes to user-satisfaction rates, according to a survey of enterprise smartphone users in the U.K.

More than half (59 percent) of iPhone-owning business customers said they are "very satisfied" with the device, according to the survey, by emerging-technology research company ChangeWave Research.

Research In Motion's BlackBerry--which has the lion's share of the enterprise market--ranked second, with just under half (47 percent) of those surveyed being "very satisfied" with the device. Nokia came third (with 40 percent), followed by Samsung Electronics (30 percent), Motorola (25 percent), and Palm (10 percent).

"It is a very interesting launch product and, once it has settled into use, the price should become more realistic," said Alastair Behenna, chief information officer at IT-management specialist Harvey Nash. "If nothing else, it will act as a catalyst to other manufacturers, and the competitive evolution of the iPhone will definitely be worth keeping a watching brief on."

In the U.K., wireless carrier O2 UK recently told ZDNet UK that it is working with Apple on hammering out rates for business users. O2 said it is hopeful the fee schedule will launch at some point this year.

Natasha Lomas of Silicon.com reported from London.

[Vegaman_Dan]

A percentage of a percentage of a percentage?

"More than half (59 percent) of iPhone-owning business customers said they are "very satisfied" with the device, according to the survey, by emerging-technology research company ChangeWave Research."

That's 59 percent of all iPhone owners who use them in business. Now we need to know what is the percentage of total iPhone users who use their phones for business is. There are roughly 4 million iPhones sold at this time- but it's unclear how many are actually activated and in use currently. How many of those 4 million units are used for business? Take that number, now lop 59% off that and you'll have a closer number to work with.

We're dealing with a percentage of a percentage.

What are the real numbers?

[lmasanti]

The article speak of...

...business users being satisfy with the iPhone.

It is not necesary to know what percentage of owners uses the
iPhone in business.

[coryschulz]

I think...

I think I read somewhere that closer to 77% of regular consumers were saying they were "very satisfied" with the phone. I was one of those people.

[technewsjunkie]

Dan doesn't like Apple anything

We get it Dan, you don't like anything Apple.

Get out much?

[whozethere]

expansion of iphones?

So you think eventually they will expand the iphone to add document software and other programs? This is my biggest hold out on the iphone.

[rnieves1977]

there is already limited document support

on jailbroken iphones.... In fact i think the new "authorized" SDK is suppose to allow developers to address this as well