Customers prefer to use mobile devices to get access to support for existing products rather than to buy online, according to a new survey.

Research by IDC found that, far from wanting to conduct transactions with mobile devices, most end users want to use them to access services and get support for products. "This demonstrates that the true value of these projects is to create efficiencies and not to drive revenues," the report said.

As information vendors step up their efforts to deliver services to mobile devices, the survey of more than 360 senior executives in the US and Europe found that 75 per cent of European companies were ready to use an external service provider to deliver their mobile information services.

More than a third of European businesses had already begun deploying mobile solutions compared to only a fifth in the US. More than two thirds of companies said they wanted their mobile solutions targeted initially at their employees.

So if you are taking your mobile on holiday this summer, take comfort from the idea that this may be the last year in which your only risk is a call from the boss. By next year, not even the beach will be safe from the joys of interactive mobile ebusiness.