Business and enterprise software, and other applications that help a business run

It should come as a surprise to no one that a new study by IDC and sponsored by Nortel has found that more and more information workers are becoming what they term “hyper-connected.” Their definition of “hyper-connected” is the use of at least seven devices and nine applications which are related to connectivity or communications in one way or another. I have to admit that I am just two devices short of being one of the hyper-connected, although I did not know it until just now. To make up for it, though, I am way over nine applications.

The point made by the study is that employers have not ramped up at the speed of the hyper-connected, and are therefore unready to support that level of connectivity. With 16% of those surveyed classed as hyper-conductive and another 34% right behind them classed as “increasingly connected” it would appear that half the work force will be needing expanded connectivity support from management in the very near future.

The study also highlights what we already know: the difference between business and personal connectivity is blurring to the point of being an absolute blend. If you Twitter with your clients and keep up with your business peer network on Facebook, it soon becomes difficult to tell business from pleasure. As the study notes, this is going to require some changes in IT philosophy before it is over.