Get the latest insights into consumer and business technology use. Is new technology giving us more freedom or more work?

New technology is allowing work to intrude further into our personal lives yet many of us refuse to hit the off button when we go home, according to the Sensis® e-Business Report released today.

The report, which has been produced annually by Sensis since 1995, surveyed 1,800 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and 1,500 consumers about technology usage, including the emerging use of BlackBerry® and other mobile email devices.

Report author Ms Christena Singh said more than half of BlackBerry® users told us they responded to work-related emails out of office hours.

“A staggering four out of 10 people said they respond to emails outside of work hours most or all of the time,” Ms Singh said.

“However, it appears we are divided about whether this new technology aids or impedes our work-life balance.

“On the one hand, about three in ten people believe the new devices allow them to balance work and life better or to have flexibility to work away from the office.

“On the other hand, about three in ten people said the technology intrudes into their personal lives and they receive constant calls or emails,” she explained.

“Whether we believe these new devices benefit or impede our lifestyle, it appears we have a hard time turning them off,” she added.

Just over half said they never turn the devices off, with one third turning them off only over the weekend.

“In fact, about half said they would be reluctant to give up the device,” she said.

Forty-nine per cent of users said they were either definitely or somewhat unwilling to give up their BlackBerry® or mobile email devices.

Three out of 10 people felt so strongly about the device that they would never consider giving it up.

Forty-two per cent of users said they were very willing or somewhat willing to give up their mobile email devices.

These devices are still in the early take up phase, with five per cent of Australians and 11 per cent of SMEs currently having a device.

The take-up of mobile email is predicted to nearly double over the coming year for consumers.

“Four per cent of consumers told us they will get an email-enabled device in the next 12 months.

“And given the way Australian businesses and consumers have been adopting technology, the take-up rate of mobile email devices is likely to grow strongly over the coming years.

“The report also showed 91 per cent of SMEs that are on the internet now have broadband internet access, up from 43 per cent three years ago.

“And some 78 per cent of Australian households have an internet connection, which is up four percentage points over the last 12 months,” she said.

Ms Singh said a further 14 per cent of Australians were expecting to be connected to the internet in the coming 12 months.

Other key findings from the Sensis® e-Business Report:

• The use of internet-enabled mobile phones by SMEs has doubled during the year, with 36 per cent of businesses now owning a mobile phone that has internet access.
• Penetration of BlackBerry® or mobile e-mail devices has been considerably stronger in medium-sized businesses (35 per cent) than small businesses (10 per cent)
• About two in 10 SMEs have some form of satellite navigation device, either in-car or hand-held.
• VOIP (Voice over internet protocol) is used by 17 per cent of SMEs.
• More than three in 10 people said they receive five or more SPAM emails per day, with nine per cent reporting more than 20 per day.
• Eighty-six per cent of Australian households have a computer of some sort, up four percentage points over the past year. Four out 10 households have a notebook, a rise of seven percentage points over the year.
• Half of Australians have ordered goods and services online and about six in 10 have made payments online in the last 12 months.
• SMEs on average spent $10,900 on computer hardware and software in 2006, an increase of $2,300 during the past year. They are expecting to reduce spending on IT in 2007, down to an average of $9,400.
• SMEs on average spent $7,200 on computer hardware during 2006, representing an increase of $1,400 during the past year. The average spend by small businesses differs greatly from that of medium businesses. Small business spend was unchanged at $3,900, while spend by medium businesses grew 75 per cent to $75,000.
• SMEs spent an average of $3,700 on software, up $300 over the past year. The average spend for small businesses is unchanged at $1,800, while spend of medium businesses rose $8,100 to an average of $43,900.
• Currently about half of SMEs engage in e-commerce, that is sell over the internet, with a further 10 per cent having some intention for the future. About four in 10 SMEs said they had no interest in e-commerce.
• The key concerns SMEs have about e-commerce include hacking (42 per cent), lack of knowledge (24 per cent) and lack of personal contact with customers (22 per cent). Concerns that customers weren’t prepared to transact or ready for e-commerce, one of the top concerns for SMEs in 2000, has fallen down the list and is now only a major concern for 12 per cent of SMEs.
• Currently, 52 per cent of SMEs have a website, up three percentage points over the year, and a further 12 per cent intend to have one in the future. More than six in 10 businesses said having a website improved business effectiveness.

About Sensis

Sensis is Telstra's advertising business and Australia's leading directories information resource, helping Australians find, buy and sell. Sensis delivers innovative and integrated local search and digital marketing solutions via print, online, voice and mobile channels to connect Australians 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sensis' powerful, multi-channel portfolio provides an unparalleled local information source incorporating the White Pages® and Yellow Pages® directories; the MediaSmart digital advertising business; the Whereis® digital mapping business; the Citysearch® entertainment and lifestyle website; the sensis.com.au search engine; the 1234 operator-assisted, premium voice information service; and the accommodation website gostay.com.au. Sensis is also a partner in some of China's most popular websites including real estate and home furnishings website, SouFun.com; auto websites Autohome.com and Che168.com; and digital devices websites IT168.com and PCPop.com.cn.