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Do you ‘work from phone’?
Nearly 24 million workers spend an average of 12 hours a week doing their job from their smartphone – nearly double the time spent using pen and paper.
Research by Uswitch found that a quarter (24%) of workers use their mobile to make video calls, almost a fifth (17%) dial into meetings, while half (50%) answer emails, and one in seven (14%) work with spreadsheets.
The price comparison website found that younger people (aged 18 to 34) are the most likely to ‘work from phone’, spending an hour and 42 minutes a day sending emails, working on docs and doing video calls, compared to just 30 minutes spent by people aged over 55.
According to Uswitch, seven in 10 (70%) people have at least one work-based app downloaded on their phone, including Slack, Zoom and Teams.
More than 15 million consumers now own a 5G phone, capable of connecting to much faster speeds when not on WiFi, and more than eight million people say they have bought one since the start of the pandemic. With more people relying on technology to carry out their work, two million Brits say they now depend on their 5G connection for work.
Close to a sixth of workers report an increase in time spent working from smartphones since the start of the pandemic, as more people have regularly worked from home.
Ru Bhikha, mobiles expert at Uswitch.com, said: “The way we use our smartphones has fundamentally changed in the last two years, and it’s unlikely to go back to business as usual any time soon.
“Phones are now used for much more than calling friends and family, they are an extension of our office set-up and millions of people are using them to dial into calls, send emails and work on documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
“The benefits of 5G are steadily becoming more apparent for many mobile users, who might have noticed an improvement in their service as the mobile infrastructure is improved. With well over 15 million people investing in a 5G-ready handset, it is clear that consumers are ready and keen to access these faster speeds.
“Accessing 5G might not be straightforward for some users, who face difficulties getting these speeds indoors, or out and about in their area. 5G coverage varies between providers in different cities, so it’s worth checking the coverage maps of each network provider if you’re thinking about making a switch to 5G.”
