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Media Kit: AT&T Small Business Technology Poll 2010

AT&T Small Business Technology Poll

AT&T recently conducted an online survey of more than 2,000 small business owners nationwide to gain a better understanding of the importance of technology to their daily operations. Not surprisingly, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of small business owners would find it challenging to survive without wireless technology.

Survey Highlights
Local Survey Results
Survey Materials
Previous Study Results
News

Survey Highlights

Approximately two-thirds (65%) of survey respondents plan on spending more or about the same on technology in 2010 as they did in 2009.
Small business owners are eight times more likely to agree than disagree (65% vs. 8%, respectively) that wireless technology is critical to keeping their business competitive.
More than 80 percent of survey respondents use smartphones, such as a Blackberry, to maintain business operations, including:
- Checking e-mail (78%)
- Viewing data (53%)
- Surfing the Web (43%)
- Updating social networking sites (18%)
Almost eighty percent of small businesses surveyed have not cut back on their use of wireless technologies and expect to rely more on wireless tools over the next two years.
Nearly eight in ten (79%) of respondents use WiFi hotspots to conduct business-related activities.

Local Survey Results

Not surprisingly, depending on where they're located, small businesses have varying opinions on the importance and use of wireless technology. Based on responses to three components — perceived importance of wireless, use of wireless technology and attitude on the impact of wireless technology — a Wireless Quotient, or "WiQ," was calculated for each of 10 markets surveyed. Each component was weighted in the rankings. For example, use of wireless technology was viewed as more important than the perceived importance of that technology. Rankings for the 10 markets follow:

Survey Materials

The results are based on an online survey; of more than 2,000 small business owners and/or employees responsible for Information Technology (IT). About 1,000 surveys were completed by small businesses located throughout the United States (National data) and about 1,100 surveys were completed with small businesses located in 10 markets — 100 in each market (Market data).

Previous Study Results

According to the 2007 AT&T wireless survey of 1,000 small business owners, 42 percent of small business owners would find survival without wireless technology a major challenge. This trend will likely increase, with 55 percent of respondents indicating they expect to depend on wireless technology even more two years from now.

Other key findings included:

Nearly two-thirds of respondents (61 percent) said they were likely to conduct business while away from the office.
More than half (56 percent) believe it's important to have flexibility to mix work with personal business in their daily routine.
Half (49 percent) said they are optimistic about wireless technology giving their business a competitive advantage.

Background and Highlights

Regional WiQs

Survey findings indicate that perceptions about the importance of wireless technology, use of wireless technology and attitudes about its impact vary by geographic region. As a result, a Wireless Quotient, or “WiQ,” was calculated for each of the 10 participating markets. With number one being highest, the study’s geographic WiQ rankings are as follows:

Podcast

Listen to AT&T's John Regan discuss results of the 2007 survey commissioned by AT&T indicating that wireless devices are becoming a matter of survival for many small businesses.