A study released by Nortel and IDC says that businesses are facing up to a culture of hyper-connectivity - a boom in device, and communications usage that has lead them to alter the way that they work.

IDC polled some 2400 workers globally, finding that sixteen per cent of them are 'hyperconnected", using a minimum of seven communications devices, and nine application during their day. These include mobile phones, email, IM, web conferencing and social networks, the analyst firm said.

This boom is likely to grow as slower adopters are following close behind. IDC found that 35 per cent of workers are "increasingly connected", using four devices to access six kinds of application. Taking these into account IDC advises firms that they might have to deal with as much as forty per cent of their work force being hyperconnected."

"The results of this study send a clear message to today's business - the hyperconnected workforce is coming and you'd better be ready," said John Gantz, chief research officer and senior vice president at IDC.

"The study found that 16 per cent of the global workforce is hyperconnected today, and will grow to 40 per cent in just a few years. This means that the surveyed workforce isn't just migrating towards Hyperconnectivity - it is stampeding to it. Businesses that embrace this have an opportunity to increase productivity and ability to compete in the global marketplace."

"For more than a year, Nortel has been emphasizing the profound global implications of Hyperconnectivity - on the enterprise and its IT strategy. For some, these IDC study findings are a final wake-up call that they risk losing productivity and profitability if they ignore this exploding culture of connectivity," added John Roese, chief technology officer, Nortel.