Managers wonder — do mobile devices such as PDAs and cell phones make companies more competitive? The answer is yes, according to IDC, the international market analysis firm. In a recent conversation with Sun, IDC mobility experts Stephen Drake and Sean Ryan explained how mobile devices are adding significant value to the enterprise.

Q: How do mobile devices make organizations more competitive?

Ryan: The main benefit of any mobile device can be found in increased accessibility and responsiveness to colleagues, customers, and partners. All of this translates into doing business faster and more efficiently.

Drake: Many corporations are moving toward converged devices, or smartphones, which combine cell phone and PDA features. It makes a lot of financial sense to use a single device for both phone calls and applications such as calendars and corporate email.