Business travellers 'have laptop, will surf'

Almost two thirds of business travellers will connect to the internet using their own laptop, with more than a fifth connecting independent of any external means – using their own data card.

But a fifth of business travellers' first point of contact with the internet would still be in an internet cafe or using a public desktop or terminal in their hotel.

In total, 43.8 per cent of respondents to a silicon.com poll said they would access the internet via their own laptop but using public Wi-Fi, such as that offered in many coffee shops, hotels, train stations and a whole host of other public locations.

A further 20.4 per cent said they come prepared with their own laptop and their own data card, meaning they can access the internet on a whim wherever there is a mobile phone signal.

Others access the web through independent means, including 16.1 per cent of respondents who said they would connect via another device such as mobile phone or smartphone.

Next most common were those respondents (11.7 per cent) who said they would head for an internet cafe upon arriving in a strange city with a need to get online, while eight per cent said they would expect to use a public desktop or terminal in their hotel.