Mobile & Wireless Technology Mapping and ICT SME Diversification in the West Midlands - A Report for the Regional Development Agency

Following a review by the ICT COG on the current economic situation and the actions that could be initiated in order to assist ICT SMEs, the COG proposed that addressing new market opportunities in one of the seven target markets identified in their ICT Cluster Strategy for 2008-11 was essential to assist ICT SMEs in diversifying. As part of this, Staffordshire University was commissioned to survey the state of mobile & wireless technology positioning within the West Midlands from a supplier perspective. This document summarises the outcomes of that survey and reports on the associated services and specific technology areas that provide a focus for current and potential future regional business activities. In doing so, the objective is to provide the ICT Cluster with data to underpin subsequent strategic and applied focus in this emerging market. The research sample used in this study comprised a total of 109 West Midlands companies, of which 69 provided sufficient details for analysis. The findings presented in this report are, therefore, based on the analysis of the data provided by these 69 participants.