Improved flexibility in work environment resulting in extended work weeks for mobile workers, 50 percent report waking up at night due to stress


REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., May 22, 2012 – iPass Inc. (NASDAQ: IPAS), a leading provider of mobility services for enterprises and telecom service providers, today published its quarterly Mobile Workforce Report, which found that 60 percent of mobile employees reported 50 to 60 hour-plus work weeks that also includes weekend days as the most popular time to work remotely. The report also illustrates mobile workers resourcefulness in doing whatever it takes to get wireless connectivity: 29 percent have hijacked an unsecure Wi-Fi network, while 30 percent have driven around in their car in desperation to find free Wi-Fi. In addition the report found a 16 percent increase, since 2011, of mobile workers waking through the night due to stress.

“Connectivity is like oxygen for today’s mobile workers. The improved ability to work anywhere as long as they are connected appears to be driving higher productivity. This reinforces the need for IT departments to provide services that ensure high quality, safe and affordable global connectivity for their employees,” said Evan Kaplan, chief executive officer at iPass. “While having control over when, where and how one works is a significant benefit in terms of well-being, mobile workers themselves need to take care to manage the unique stressors that an always connected work-life brings.”

The findings come as 88 percent of these “globally mobile” workers said wireless access was as important to their lives, or almost, as running water and electricity while 95 percent reported significant reductions in their job productivity without wireless access.

Meanwhile, the percentage of mobile workers sleeping with their smartphone has risen slightly since 2011.71 percent of Asian mobile workers reporting they sleep with their smartphones in the bedroom, followed by 58 percent of North Americans and 55 percent of Europeans.

Other report findings include:

  • Globally 58 percent of mobile workers expressed frustration accessing corporate applications that are not optimized for smartphones and tablets.
  • Tablets are the most popular mobile device for video streaming (47 percent), social media access (33 percent) and reading (64 percent). However, the laptop is still the most popular device for video conferencing (69 percent), document editing (88 percent) and web browsing.
  • Mobile usage is causing slightly increased friction in mobile workers’ personal lives with their partners, family and friends. The highest amount of friction was reported in Europe at 38 percent, followed by 33 percent of North Americans and 30 percent of Asian respondents.
  • Saturday and Sunday are the most popular days to work remotely (30 percent) followed by Friday at 22 percent.
  • 56 percent of Asian mobile workers, sometimes or obsessively, wake up during the night to check their smartphone, followed by 31 percent of North Americans and 21 percent of Europeans.
  •  The first thing 38 percent of North American mobile workers do when they wake up is check email, followed by 33 percent in Asia and 29 percent in Europe. 57 percent of mobile workers are bothered when other people use their mobile devices in work meetings. However, 13 percent of them say they are equally guilty of checking their devices.
  • Data roaming charges are impacting even the most resourceful of employees with 34 percent of mobile workers reporting data roaming bill shock.
  • 27 percent of mobile workers intend to buy an iPad in the next six months, followed by 8 percent who intend to buy a Samsung galaxy tablet.

For more statistics and findings, please visit http://mobile-workforce-project.ipass.com

About the Report
The iPass Mobile Workforce Report is published quarterly. This report was based on a survey of 1,689 mobile enterprise employees at 1,100 enterprises worldwide between March 27, 2012 and April 13, 2012. The iPass Mobile Workforce Report can be found at http://mobile-workforce-project.ipass.com.

About iPass Inc.
iPass helps enterprises and telecom service providers ensure their employees and subscribers stay well connected. Founded in 1996, iPass (NASDAQ: IPAS) delivers the world’s largest commercial-grade Wi-Fi network and trusted connectivity platform. With more than 780,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across 120 countries and territories, iPass gives its customers always-on, frictionless connectivity anywhere in the world – simply, securely and cost-effectively. Additional information is available at www.iPass.com or on Smarter Connections, the iPass blog.

iPass® is a registered trademark of iPass Inc. Wi-Fi® is a registered trademark of the WiFi Alliance. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners.

Media Contacts
iPass Inc.
US: John Gallagher, iPass
Tel: +1 650 232 4233
Email: pr@ipass.com

UK: Leila Hajaj, Spark Communications
Tel: +44 (0) 207 436 0420
Email: leila@sparkcomms.co.uk