SMBs Join Mobile Movement With Manta's iPhone App

COLUMBUS, OH--(Marketwire - Jun 28, 2011) - Manta, the world's largest online community for promoting and connecting small business, today unveiled results from a new survey about mobile trends in business while also announcing the availability of Manta Business Search for iPhone. The Manta SMB nation survey found that the 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.

Manta's SMB Nation Survey asked more than 1,000 small business owners about how they use mobile devices in their business. The survey revealed 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. Thirty-two percent of SMBs are checking email on their mobile device first thing in the morning, as compared to 31 percent brushing their teeth and 23 percent having their cup of coffee.

"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 of Manta. "Our business owners rely on Manta to help them with their web and mobile presence since the profile we have on their company becomes their key toward being found via mobile; Manta helps them be found on both platforms.

"It's 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."

Mobile devices also are playing a critical role in networking -- the mobile device is the new rolodex for many small business owners. The survey found 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. With the Manta Business Search for iPhone app, business users have instant access to nearly 24 million U.S. businesses and with the tap of a button can add contact information to their mobile device and directly reach out to any individual.

Key features of Manta Business Search for iPhone, averaging more than 1,000 downloads daily, include:

• 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.

Finally, even though it's summertime, the survey showed business owners are never truly on vacation from work or their smartphone. Nearly all business professionals (73 percent) said they work remotely while on vacation, checking work email/documents from their mobile device. Manta makes it possible for SMBs to not just check email but to connect with people that help propel their business forward even when they're not in the office and working on the go from their smartphone.

Manta's SMB Nation Survey was conducted online in June 2011. To access the entire results of the survey go to http://www.manta.com/small-business/mobile_survey_0611.

About the Survey
Manta conducted this study from June 8, 2010 to June 13, 2011. An online survey conducted by Zoomerang was answered by 1,043 small business owners. The margin of error is +/-3 percentage points. To review the complete results visit, http://www.manta.com/small-business/mobile_survey_0611.

About Manta
Manta is the world's largest online community for promoting and connecting small business. With nearly 64 million company profiles, Manta is used by business owners and professionals to promote and differentiate their offerings and "be found" online by customers and prospects. Manta is ranked the third largest business news/research website by comScore and has an audience of 31 million from the U.S. and around the globe. Manta is included in Business Insider's SAI Digital 100: The World's Most Valuable Startups. Launched in 2005, Manta is privately held and based in Columbus, Ohio. Find out if your company is listed on Manta at http://www.manta.com/add.