The debate between corporate or employee liable management wages on, but in either direction a company chooses to go, it’s clear that policy is an integral part of wireless mobility management.

According to AOTMP research, 69 percent of enterprises have a formal wireless mobility policy in place leaving the remaining 31 percent vulnerable to device misuse and abuse.

The report, “The Importance of Effective Wireless Policy,” says enterprises with a formal wireless mobility governance policy spend 40 percent less per user on mobile voice services.

Wireless expenses represent 35 percent of total telecom spend and this figure will likely grow, according to industry experts.

“In today’s work environment, it is critical that a wireless policy be in place to protect both the enterprise and the employee,” said Timothy C. Colwell, vice president of knowledge operations at AOTMP. “Enterprises need to institute and monitor wireless policy compliance proactively to enable alignment of policy against dynamic business needs.”

As the remote and mobile workforce continues to boost the growth of new mobile devices connected to the enterprise, savings, security and accountability are top of mind for IT decision makers wary of the long-term implications.

Regardless of their liability policies, for enterprises looking to receive the greatest benefit possible from wireless services, industry experts urge that it’s imperative to implement effective telecom lifecycle management practices.

Based on the recent increase in smart devices and the number of applications being deployed onto these devices, companies must ensure policies are in place in order to deter “inappropriate behavior and avoid unintended consequences,” according to AOTMP officials.

AOTMP’s report examined wireless policy strategies from key benchmark data points representing more than 280 enterprise telecom professionals across 24 different industries.