British business is missing out on the benefits of mobile technology because they lack even basic strategy, according to research from O2.

The mobile operator talked to 600 businesses and found that although spending on mobile technology is expected to reach 12 per cent of IT spending this year 63 per cent of companies do not have a mobile strategy.

IT departments are failing to take control of the technology - 35 per cent of firms questioned allow expenditure on wireless without the involvement of the IT department.

The gap in leadership is not stopping people using wireless devices. The survey found 7 per cent of workers in the companies are using their own PDAs at work and 18 per cent of IT directors admitted they have no idea who is using what devices within their businesses.

This vacumn creates different mobile strategies in different parts of the business which reduces return on investment and leaves the company exposed to unneccessary security risks.

IT directors need to ask basic questions about what wireless devices are already in use, what risk they represent and how to move the strategy forward.
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