Sybase said that 90 percent of IT managers are planning to implement new mobile apps in 2011, with nearly half stating that successfully managing mobile applications will top their priority list for the year. The single most important factor influencing businesses was the potential for cost savings, although half of respondents also cited employee demand as a motivating factor. Almost one quarter of respondents are planning to introduce “20 or more” applications into their organisation, with fragmentation remaining a real consideration – IT managers anticipate supporting “about eight” different platforms or operating systems by the end of 2011.

Some concerns remain: 75 percent of those surveyed cited security issues, 54 percent cost concerns, and 25 percent a “lack of direct experience.” It also found that 44 percent of respondents said that tailoring company information and data for mobile apps was “an added benefit that isn’t always necessary.”  Interestingly, 82 percent of IT managers share the belief that it would be beneficial to host more of their applications in the cloud.

The survey polled IT managers from 250 businesses, and was conducted by Kelton Research.

Read our Focus article on Sybase and the mobile enterprise market here.