IoT to Benefit as Enterprise Smartphone Data Plan Revenues Surpass $200 Billion in 2020

Despite the dismay device OEMs feel as smartphone prices continue to fall, enterprise workers across the world, particularly those in emerging markets, are rejoicing as smartphone adoption continues to increase. This additionally signals an advantage for mobile operators, whose handset data plan revenues from the enterprise segment can expect to exceed $200 billion in 2020, according to ABI Research, the leader in technology market intelligence.

“The importance of smartphones to the enterprise worker cannot be underestimated,” says Dan Shey, Managing Director and Vice President at ABI Research. “Operator services need to focus on driving the most value from the smartphone to the enterprise user, such as assisting in choosing the right devices and applications, and offering services to manage device content and functionality. Looking ahead, operators also need to help businesses leverage the smartphone and their voice and data connectivity services as a key component in their IoT solutions.”

Voice services are still an important revenue component for mobile operators. As such, these services must continue to provide consistent and quality network performance domestically while offering increasingly simplified, cost-effective access to voice and data services when travelling internationally. And security is also a critical element to enterprise smartphone usability. Operators can play a crucial role in supporting security application needs while also offering enterprise workers guidance toward smartphone usage and security best practices. 

According to the report’s data analysis, North America leads in total mobile enterprise revenues across voice, messaging, handset data plans, mobile broadband, business-to-employee applications and enterprise mobility management services. However, figures show that the Asia-Pacific region will overtake North America in 2017 to become the biggest market for enterprise mobility revenues.

“Enterprise is becoming more connected, across both people and machines,” concludes Shey. “Operator smartphone strategies need to evolve to support the myriad of applications and opportunities that will stem from the billions of connections in the Internet of Things. The partnerships that AT&T, Verizon, Tele2 and Vodafone created with major ICT suppliers are all a step in the right direction toward building integrated solutions that can leverage smartphone applications and services.”

These findings are part of ABI Research’s Workplace Automation and Enterprise Mobility Service, which includes research reports, market data, insights and competitive assessments.

About ABI Research

For more than 25 years, ABI Research has stood at the forefront of technology market intelligence, partnering with innovative business leaders to implement informed, transformative technology decisions. The company employs a global team of senior analysts to provide comprehensive research and consulting services through deep quantitative forecasts, qualitative analyses and teardown services. An industry pioneer, ABI Research is proactive in its approach, frequently uncovering ground-breaking business cycles ahead of the curve and publishing research 18 to 36 months in advance of other organizations. In all, the company covers more than 60 services, spanning 11 technology sectors. For more information, visit www.abiresearch.com.