Survey

Manta, an online community for promoting and connecting small business, has announced the availability of Manta Business Search for iPhone. Also, it has released results from a new survey about mobile trends in business.

The Manta Business Search for iPhone (News - Alert) app allows business users to have instant access to around 24 million U.S. businesses. The tap of a button feature enables them to add contact information to their mobile device and directly reach out to any individual, said company officials.

Moreover with this app, users can search companies by location or by category, name, city or state; filter companies by revenue, number of employees, ownership, proximity and more; view maps of company locations; bookmark favorite company pages and result sets.

Manta's SMB Nation Survey asked more than 1,000 small business owners about how they use mobile devices in their business. According to the findings of the survey, nearly one-third, 29 percent, of business professionals use their mobile device for business at least once an hour and 4 in 10 access apps from their mobile device for business 2-3 times per day.

However, a majority of business professionals, 69 percent, say it's now more important than ever that information about their business be found easily via a mobile device, notes the survey report.

The survey also found that around 32 percent of SMBs are checking email on their mobile device first thing in the morning -- comparison 31 percent brushing their teeth and 23 percent having their cup of coffee.

Additionally, the findings of the survey say that the first thing almost 40 percent of business professionals do after meeting a prospect or customer is add their contact information into their mobile device.

Plus, nearly all business professionals, 73 percent, work remotely while on vacation, checking work email/documents from their mobile device, according to the findings of the survey.

“Mobile is a huge priority for our small business customers and we're already seeing strong demand for our mobile application being in the top 15 most popular business apps on iTunes,” said Pamela Springer, president and CEO at Manta.

Springer said that it has become clear that more and more businesses are looking to mobile applications and solutions that drive business results whether it's developing key relationships, connecting with customers, prospects and partners or finding new customers.

Earlier in January, Manta named Greg Garrick as vice president of marketing and communications.