A poll by UK market research firm ICM brings welcome, if not surprising, news for proponents of mobile email.

There is precious little doubt over the usefulness and popularity of email, however, some question whether there is sufficient consumer pull for the communications tool to take off on the mobile platform.

Charles Black, CEO of ASP firm Nasstar, which commissioned the report, said: “The first wave was the mobile phone, and many of us would admit we rely on our mobile and can’t remember how we ever survived without it.

“This poll shows that the next phase is the growth of mobile email. There’s an increasing demand for email on-the-go, and technology has developed to meet this demand. Now with your mobile, or your Blackberry, you can have access to your email anywhere and everywhere,” he said.

When asked if they could carry on without access to email, 50 per cent of 25-34 year old respondents to the survey said “no”. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this age group is leading the way in adoption of email technologies.

The latest technologies have not been monopolised by the younger generation. Only 41 per cent of teenager respondents admitted to relying on their email, whereas the 35-44 year olds are embracing new technologies for communication much quicker with 44 per cent saying that email is vital to them.

The variation between males and females was, surprisingly, very little with 41 per cent of all females admitting they would find it hard without email contact, compared to 38 per cent of males.