Market research firm IDC expects the global mobile worker population to increase by more than 200 million within the next four years, climbing from 650 million in 2004 to more than 850 million in 2009. According to the market research firm, the United States had the highest percentage of mobile workers in its workforce in 2004, and is expected to reach over 70 percent mobile workforce penetration by the end of 2009.

"Organizations deploying mobile solutions and suppliers delivering mobile solutions to customers should focus on emerging regions where mobility is taking off, especially in areas where mobile enterprise deployments may leap-frog much of the traditional wire-based technology," said Stephen Drake, program director for IDC's Mobile Software service.