Chief mobility officers have been around for a while, but they are becoming increasingly imperative as more businesses try to come up with mobile strategies, reports Matt Hamblen at Computerworld. With smartphones and tablets proliferating in the workplace as new means of engaging with customers, partners and fellow employees, companies need mobile IT executives to deliver mobile apps and services faster, according to a new study from Forrester Research.

"Mobile is one of those things that bites you from behind if you aren't paying attention," said Forrester analyst Ted Schadler.

The study looked at the approach that 61 companies are taking to expand mobile services. By 2015, spending on mobile projects will double, the analysts predict. By 2016, the budget for mobile apps is expected to reach $55 billion. Without a chief mobility officer, a company can waste a lot of time and money on uncoordinated mobile initiatives pursued by different divisions.

As an example of the explosive popularity of mobile engagement, Forrester pointed to Walgreens, where a single mobile app was responsible for one-quarter of web-based business involving drug refills, store location searches and general shopping.

For more:
- see Matt Hamblen's article at Computerworld

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