How can you relieve mobile device frustration?

Reg reader poll

Mobile Workshop It seems like we struck a nerve with the recent mobile workshop article on email devices. With other subjects, such as security and push email, there has been a discussion around the various approaches and their pros and cons, but on the device front it seems that there is a high degree of frustration.

Reading through the comments we received, these seem to be the major points:

The unholy combination of “Swatch fashion accessory crossed with Swiss Army Knife” phone, versus form, fit and function of your basic phone. Who gets to decide on the range of choice, and therefore becomes the whipping boy for the fashion police and senior management who need to show the latest toy at the golf club?

Overblown claims for the capabilities of lightweight operating systems setting unreasonable expectations in users’ minds

The apparent disinterest of manufacturers in listening to customer feedback on the device and server side software. So, if we told you that the mobile operators are listening (which they are), can you take some time to answer the following mini-questionnaire. You never know, it might result in the manufacturers and providers helping you get what you want.

This survey is now closed.

How much freedom does your organisation give to users when providing them with handsets?

They are issued with a standard device based on their role
They can choose from limited range of pre-approved manufacturers/models
They can choose any device, provided it meets certain criteria (cost, spec, etc)
They can choose any device, provided they can get their manager to sign off the cost
We do not issue company devices
Unsure

The Nokia 6310i is a popular "no frills" phone that is widely deployed in a business environment with associated investments in accessories such as car kits. Would you see a value in a replacement for the 6310i that offered basic email access capability?

Yes
No - 6310i style devices have a limited lifetime
No - the email experience on such a device would not be usable enough
No - we would not want to give email access to most 6310i users
No - we would generally offer a second device to 6310i users that needed email
Unsure

Looking to the future, what is the most likely setup that will be offered to employees for using their mobile phone while driving on company business?

Bluetooth headset
Wired headset
Fitted bluetooth car kit
Fitted wired car kit
Universal (removable) car kit
Mixture of the above
None - policy forbids mobile phone use while driving
Unsure

Have you developed a mobile device/data strategy?

Yes, based on an internal assessment of requirements
Yes, with help from an external consultant
No, but planning to do so with the help of an external consultant
No, but planning to do so via an internal assessment
No firm plans
Unsure

Approximately how large is your organisation (worldwide) in terms of employees?

Less than 10 employees
10 to 49 employees
50 to 249 employees
250 to 4,999 employees
5,000 to 24,999 employees
More than 25,000 employees
Unsure / N/A