Teleworking continues to rise nationwide

It may seem like common sense, but teleworking — working from home by means of a computer — seems to have finally breached the upper levels of management in many large technology firms, according to a recent report by the AeA.

According to the latest Competitiveness Series report by the AeA, formerly the American Electronic Association, half of the companies surveyed said teleworking was the second best way to attract employees, after salary. Of that percentage, one-third said it was the best way.

The AeA surveyed 1,400 chief technology officers nationwide and found teleworking options increased in interest by 32 percent. In an included survey by the University of Maryland, 1.35 billion gallons of gasoline would be saved each year if all U.S. companies allowed employees to telework 1.6 days a week. At current gas prices, that amounts to more than $4.5 billion.

The addition of teleworking has been good for both the businesses that offer it and those that provide technology to support it. In Arizona, voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP)  companies like C3IP Communications LLC, Mitel Networks Inc., and Telesphere have seen dramatic increases in their customer base in the past two years. More companies are looking to merge data and telephone service in one bundle, freeing workers from the commuting to stationary computer and telephone terminals at work, said Clark Peterson, chief executive of Telesphere.

“Internet-based communication will continue to be popular, especially now that broadband speeds are increasing and quality of service keeps getting better,” he said. Telesphere is based in Scottsdale and is in the midst of a national roll out of services.

Peterson’s predictions are on the money, according to telecommunications analysts. David Lemelin, a researcher at Scottsdale-based technology research firm In-Stat estimates that by 2010, more than 3 million people in the U.S. will use VoIP by 2010. Approximately 375,000 uses VoIP in 2006, the latest statistics available.

While VoIP continues to increase its telecommunications foothold, hosted Internet video-conferencing has risen in status as well. This, experts said, is due to the decreasing cost of Web-based video equipment, faster broadband speeds and the recent shift to improve sustainable business practices.

Scottsdale-based iLinc Communications Inc. is the state’s largest provider of video-conferencing services. In the past year, the company has signed dozens of state agencies in Arizona, Louisiana, Oregon, South Carolina and Utah. The company has also signed large private sector businesses and school districts nationwide.

James Powers, iLinc president and CEO, said current fears of a national recession has also fed the teleworking movement. But at the top of the list is the desire to reduce carbon footprint caused by employee transit.

“The increased buzz around being green,” he said. “Sustainability has become a mainstream concern for consumers and across business, and so we’re seeing teleworking as being one way for companies and their employees to participate in the movement to reduce carbon emissions by reducing travel to and from work.”

Ty can be reached at ty@aztechnews.net.