Technology has pushed accountants beyond the realms of auditing and bookeeping. Mobile services, in particular, have helped make the services of accountants more like business counselling, a study from Research in Motion and the ICAEW shows. In a survey of 566 senior accountants 75% indicated that it is important for them to be contactable out of the office more than before due to the economic downturn. Sarah Probert, director of segment marketing at RIM, said that the availability of an accountant is crucial for success. 'As trusted business advisors, being available during the working day is clearly critical to the service and quality of advice they are able to offer to clients,' said Probert. Accounting professionals who make use of mobile technologies such as the BlackBerry smartphone say that they are able to increase their personal productivity with the use of such devices. For 59% of the survey, this has allowed them to increase billable hours to clients. John Oates, a vice chairman at the ICAEW, IT faculty and partner in Baker Tilly's IT advisory practice said: 'In many instances, timeliness is critical and I would simply not be able to provide the service they need in this harsh economic climate if I were not able to communicate with them wherever I am during the working day.'