Warrington, 10th September 2007 - Over 50% of companies now consider dismissal as the preferred course of action for misuse of the corporate mobile phone, despite just half having any kind of usage policy in place according a recent Martin Dawes Systems survey*.

According to a recent statement from Ovum, a leading telecoms analyst firm, there are over three million corporate mobile phones in the UK alone, attracting an annual bill of approximately £1.7 billion. One operator suggests that 15% of calls made on a company handset are for private use, therefore costing organisations an estimated £255m a year**.

These results show that there is a clear need for employers to establish clearly defined and enforceable mobile phone usage policies. Despite the mobile phone now being considered essential for work and play it is also the most widely misused piece of corporate property unless guidelines for its use are drawn up and enforced.

Tony Wilson, Operations Director at Martin Dawes Systems comments:

"A mobile phone can be seen as a burden, a perk, a business tool as well as personal lifeline; it really depends on your perspective. However you look at it, having a system in place that allows employees to get the most out of the phone and allows the company to manage costs is a real benefit for any business."

* Source: Martin Dawes Systems Convergence Survey, Vanson Bourne
** Source: Split Bill, Vodafone Research.