Lead us not into tab-tation: Telco is tempting tab fever this Christmas as it pushes iPad 2, Moto Xoom and Acer Iconia line up.

Click to enlarge

Telstra’s Androidland in Melbourne. Image credit: Google

As many as one third of Australian small businesses are considering buying an iPad or similar tablet in the lead up to Christmas, according to Telstra.

Many are buying a tablet for work, research conducted on behalf of Telstra also revealed, and is even higher among users of mobile broadband as 66% have a tablet on their Christmas wish list.

The research quizzed 321 SMBs from self-employed to firms with to 200 staff.

Why? Flexibility is a major reason why the mobile tabs are popular.

“Smartphones and high-speed mobile broadband have been great business enablers and tablets help the move to increased mobility,” said Telstra Business Group Managing Director, Will Irving, who said a massive 86% of tab users say they are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their mobile device.

“Telstra expects they will top the Christmas wish list for many this year – for small business, they really appeal because they’re simple to use and they help make work even easier on the go,” he said.

“More than 60 percent have at least one staff member spending most of their time working away from their main business location,” Mr Irving said.

“Notably, for businesses that encourage staff to work away from the office, 89 per cent say tablets make their work moderately to significantly more efficient.”

Telstra recently introduced Apple’s iPad 2 on various monthly data allowance and spread the device costs over 24 months, to this end. 

Business customers can also choose from two Android tablets – the Motorola XOOM and the Acer Iconia Tab A501 Pro.

Both make it easy to share content with clients, speed up ordering and logistics when on the road and access email and office documents without the need for a bulky laptop, Irving added.