While smartphone makers may be dismayed by falling prices there could be an upside for wireless carriers providing to the enterprise.  

A new report from ABI Research shows that mobile operators handset data plan revenues from the enterprise segment can expect to exceed $200 billion in 2020.

Dan Shey, managing director and vice president at ABI notes that the importance of smartphones to the enterprise worker cannot be underestimated. 

“Operator services need to focus on driving the most value from the smartphone to the enterprise user, such as assisting in choosing the right devices and applications, and offering services to manage device content and functionality,” Shey said. “Looking ahead, operators also need to help businesses leverage the smartphone and their voice and data connectivity services as a key component in their IoT solutions.”

ABI notes that voice quality and security are of particular concern to enterprise users.  

According to the report, North America leads in total mobile enterprise revenues across voice, messaging, handset data plans, mobile broadband, business-to-employee applications and enterprise mobility management services. 

That said, the report also projects that the Asia-Pacific region will overtake North America in 2017 to become the biggest market for enterprise mobility revenues.

ABI also notes how operators need to continue to connect enteprise smartphones to the Internet of Things. 

“Enterprise is becoming more connected, across both people and machines,” concludes Shey. “Operator smartphone strategies need to evolve to support the myriad of applications and opportunities that will stem from the billions of connections in the Internet of Things. The partnerships that AT&T, Verizon, Tele2 and Vodafone created with major ICT suppliers are all a step in the right direction toward building integrated solutions that can leverage smartphone applications and services.”