'Tis the Season for Getting Things Done -- Technology Vital to Productivity Says Survey

The 2006 Sprint Productivity Survey -- a nationwide index of wireless phone users and their productivity -- revealed that although nearly all wireless phone subscribers (93 percent) bring work-related mobile phones on vacation, the majority of Americans say they have achieved work-life balance (73 percent) and are more productive today than two years ago (67 percent).

Most respondents (84 percent) report technology is vital to their productivity. Specifically, 35 percent say they could not accomplish what they do without technology. An equal number report they would accomplish much less without technology, and 14 percent report they would accomplish nearly the same.

Nearly three-quarters of respondents (73 percent) report having a work-life balance, defined as meaningful daily achievement and enjoyment in one's home and working lives. Eighty-two percent of respondents report high levels of productivity increase their work-life balance. Many respondents use technology to help achieve a work-life balance.

Productivity means different things to different people. The most popular characterization of productivity -- as selected by 36 percent of respondents -- was maximizing their life by making the most of their time in and out of work. The second most popular response -- with 25 percent support -- was completing tasks in a timely manner. Rounding out the list was:

• Making the most out of their time (16 percent)
• Completing tasks faster than before at a better quality (14 percent)
• Making the most of multitasking (6 percent)
• Completing tasks faster than before (2 percent)

Contrary to the popular sentiment of dreading Mondays, the survey found that Monday is the most productive day of the week, as selected by 27 percent of respondents. As the week progresses, respondent productivity decreases.

When asked what services on respondents' mobile phones help maximize their lives (respondents could choose more than one), respondents said:

• Text messaging (64 percent)
• E-mail (62 percent)
• Camera (60 percent)
• Wireless Web (59 percent)
• Music (58 percent)
• Instant messaging (58 percent)
• Location-based services (driving directions, GPS tracking) (55 percent)
• News (55 percent)
• Games (51 percent).

Similarly, when asked which feature on their mobile phone helps respondents make the most of their time, voicemail led the way. Respondents said:

• Voicemail (86 percent)
• Phone book (82 percent)
• Speed dial (65 percent)
• Speakerphone (65 percent)
• Camera (56 percent)
• Text/instant messaging (53 percent)
• Calendar (51 percent)

More than half of respondents (54 percent) would like to use GPS on their mobile phone to locate a family member, and more than one-third (37 percent) of those with a digital video recorder (DVR) would like to be able to program it with their mobile phone. Also of interest, nearly half of respondents (49 percent) say they know five or fewer numbers currently in their mobile phone's phonebook by heart -- nine percent report knowing zero numbers by heart.

Fourteen percent of respondents report already giving up their landline to exclusively use their mobile phone, and an additional 32 percent say they are likely to give up their landline in favor of their mobile phone. Additionally, of those respondents with both a landline and mobile phone, 51 percent would like one voice mailbox for both phone lines.