Swedish business ranks first in technology use

The International Herald Tribune : "Businesses in Sweden, Ireland and Britain top the list when it comes to the use of information technology to improve their operations, according to a recent survey. The United States, which was in the top three last year, slipped four places.

The study by the U.S. consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton uses its own "sophistication index" to determine how eagerly, and capably, countries have embraced information technology, including wireless access and Internet access. Commissioned by Britain's Department of Trade and Industry, the survey by the New York-based consulting firm was based on interviews by phone from April to July of nearly 8,000 businesses in Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Sweden, South Korea and the United States.

Sweden rose to first place from fifth from 2003 to 2004 because of the country's use of technology by both large and small businesses. Ireland was ranked second, while Britain finished third, four spots higher than in 2003.

Germany was ranked fourth, followed by South Korea, Canada, the United States and Australia. Italy, Japan and France rounded out the survey."