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Sixty percent of the total cost of operation (TCO) for a wireless device is capital cost, which includes hardware, software and network services. The additional costs are 30 percent for operations, which includes technical services, support and application development, as well as a further 10 percent on administration, which includes evaluation, implementation and training.
The report also found that per-user costs for wireless-enabled devices are USD50 per month more expensive than those for mobile phones.
Service costs are the largest components in PDA capital costs and in order save money on these fees, the report recommends consolidating network service providers, bundling services and aggressively negotiating contracts.
The report also says that companies should pre-determine what the return on investment (ROI) will be, when providing PDAs to individual employees. Factors to consider, with regard to individual workers, when providing PDAs include potential increases in productivity and increased accuracy because of constant communication. Other factors are decreased costs based on improving efficiency, eliminating redundant processes and providing information in soft rather than printed format.
"ROI is possible for many mobile applications, but enterprises that proactively link mobile technology investments to job functions and bottom-line productivity indicators, such as sales revenue, customer support an internal operations goals, will be successful at defining a mobile ROI," said Phil Redman, research director for Gartner.
Gartner's report follows a report released by UK-based Pointsec Mobile Technologies and Infosecurity Europe last month, which found that PDA owners commonly download confidential business information onto their PDAs without implementing proper security measures.
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