A new survey by broadband platform provider 2Wire says 24 percent of American broadband subscribers won't vacation somewhere if there isn't much in the way of broadband connectivity, and 69 percent said they'd be more tempted to work from home this summer if they can go online wirelessly from their own backyards. And more than half the respondents said they'll check their e-mail daily on vacation this year.
"The flexibility of wireless home networking and the availability of hotspots is contributing to the development of an always-connected digital lifestyle," said 2Wire marketing vice president Brian Sugar, announcing the survey results.
The company said they surveyed 400 subscribers with home networks in May and June, with 60 percent of respondents saying they "feel agitated" if they can't get on the Internet "for a prolonged period" and 33 percent saying they felt bored. Was anyone relieved to be offline? Yes – about 2 percent, 2Wire said, compared to 61 percent saying they needed their Net more often than a year earlier.
"As setting up and managing wireless home networks becomes easier, ubiquitous broadband access is becoming an essential part of the daily routine of many subscribers," Sugar said. "Contrary to the belief that being constantly 'connected' is stressful, the results of this survey indicate that many people are more able to relax and enjoy themselves when they can get online regardless of their location, even while on vacation."
Almost half the survey respondents (42 percent) said they would take their office work outdoors with the flexibility of wireless home networks, while more than half (69 percent) "admitted" they would be more tempted to work from home on sunny days if they had wireless on the home front.
