'Mobile professional' is large end-user segment

A recently released whitepaper has quantified the number of end-users leveraging smartphones and tablets for the devices' productivity and business process efficiency gains.

Published by Experian, the report revealed that 18 percent of of adult mobile device users can be classified as so-called mobile professionals. That figures is good for No. 5 in the list of five categories highlighted by the firm.

According to the report, mobile professionals are those who use "smartphones help them keep up with their professional and personal life. Their phone has become their all-in-one device for communication and information needs."

At 22 percent of all users, 'social connector,' those who view communication as central to their lives, was the most popular category.

Among mobile professionals, the reported stated that the iPhone, as well as HTC and BlackBerry smartphones were the most popular devices. Companies can use such information when enforcing mobile device management.

A separate report from a mobile advertiser revealed that specific smartphone preference varies based on geography. Users in the South and Southwest most often choose devices run on Google's Android mobile operating system, while the Midwest and Northeast trend toward the iPhone.