This IDC study examines telecommuting from the perspective of the small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that employ telecommuters, rather than from the more traditional perspective of telecommuter households. Questions addressed include the following:

"Managing a work-life balance has traditionally been upheld as one of the main appeals of telecommuting, but increasing costs of transportation will continue to impact the number of telecommuters as well as the number of days worked from home," says Merle Sandler, senior research analyst in the SMB and Home Office services at IDC. " The growing number of telecommuters, coupled with the fact that the home offices of telecommuters are becoming more technologically sophisticated, provides an increasing opportunity for vendors of technology goods and services."