An IT expert, Mr Frank Cohen, on Wednesday said that users of ICT facilities were gradually dumping laptops and personal computers for new mobile devices like smartphones and iPad.

He told our correspondent in Lagos that the demand for new mobile devices had increased globally and were gradually replacing laptops and personal computers.

Cohen, who is the President of Systems Applications Products (SAP) Ltd., said that market penetration of smart phones was growing rapidly.

He said that there were about 4.5 billion mobile phones around the globe.

According to him, the desire to communicate on phones and surf on the Internet while on the move has led to the growth of mobile phones and other mobile devices.

“Mobile devices are now transforming information and communication technology development into a mobile world.

“The use of mobile device has become the preferred choice, not only for games or shopping, but for work,” he said.

The expert quoted a survey conducted in China as showing that about 70 per cent of the population preferred using new mobile devices to do their jobs, rather than laptops.

Cohen said that SAP Ltd had the responsibility of ensuring that transactions done on a laptop could also be executed on tablet or a smart phone.

He said that efforts were being made to promote the use of mobile systems, stressing that smart phones could change the way businesses were done.

Cohen, however, said that smartphones and tablets were also susceptible to worms and virus like laptops and desktops.

He said that mobile malware could steal sensitive data, but added that high-profile mobile malware infections were few.

Cohen, therefore, advised phone users to protect their devices against malware, unauthorised access, theft and loss of data on their devices.