While geographical regions differ in their approach to mobility, the empowerment opportunities remain consistent. Stats have a great way of identifying trends, not to mention significant regional differences. The recent CIO Survey shows that although mobility is on the rise regardless of industry or geography, European nations are far more aggressive when it comes to embracing opportunities to expand mobile reach. Specifically, 61 percent of European respondents say their organizations are aggressively investing in mobility, versus only 39 percent across North American respondents. The reason is simple — the size and diverse population in the U.S. makes for a significantly slower-moving machine. A smaller country like France can make a difference as a true test bed because of its size. In the U.S. we cannot say that only the state of New York is going to get a new device. Yet the user base across France can, for instance, provide almost immediate feedback on the next evolution of NFC technology. Plus, if you take a look at the Nordic countries, mobile growth is rampant because of mobility’s roots. After all, Nokia’s devices were the springboard for today’s cellular market, and most U.S. companies active in mobility were followers. Even today, other than Apple with its own mobile ecosystem, the market remains quite fragmented, with foreign-owned and operated companies holding a significant share. In addition, there is a cultural issue that comes into play, especially considering that U.S. people are still predominantly social beings when compared with others. Last, and perhaps most importantly, compliance and regulation serve as meaningful barriers to rapid widespread adoption. While dealing with any government is a huge task for a device maker, doing so in the U.S. is significantly harder. The U.S. has far more instances for which the government steps in to protect programs and people, in addition to avoiding terrorism. This means that testing a new phone, feature or service offering is easier to accomplish and document in a small European nation willing to serve as a test bed. Even with the noticeable regional differences, the bottom line remains that mobility represents a significant opportunity to empower the workforce to effectively collaborate and innovate. Related content brandpost Sponsored by CSC Looking into the Crystal Ball As pharmaceuticals prepare to thrive in the years ahead, the need to focus on core competencies has never been stronger. By John J. Bell Oct 14, 2015 3 mins Small and Medium Business Collaboration Software brandpost Sponsored by CSC A Seamless Generation Next-gen technologies are making significant inroads into life sciences by seamlessly integrating into infrastructure. By John J. Bell Oct 13, 2015 2 mins CIO brandpost Sponsored by CSC Overcoming Life’s Obstacles The challenges to innovation facing life sciences companies are realu2014so too are the opportunities. By John J. Bell Oct 07, 2015 2 mins Risk Management brandpost Sponsored by CSC Disruption Hits Healthcare Market As the health insurance market undergoes disruption, progressive CIOs are using the opportunity for digital transformation. By Lisa Pettigrew Oct 05, 2015 3 mins CIO Healthcare Industry Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe