Canadian office workers rely on e-mail as their primary communication tool more than the telephone, according to a new survey, despite the proliferation of spam.

The survey, carried out in Canada and the U.S. by KRC Research for software giant Oracle Corp., compiled the data with 1,000 telephone interviews.

The survey found that 44 per cent of respondents consider e-mail to be their primary communication tool at work. Only 28 per cent relied more on the telephone, while 15 per cent cited face-to-face meetings.

Among Canadian respondents, 53 per cent said e-mail "makes them more productive and they can't live without it." Thirty-six per cent said e-mail does not affect their productivity.

E-mail is also becoming a popular alternative to long-distance telephone calls. Eighteen per cent of respondents said they communicate across the country via e-mail. Six per cent said they communicate with colleagues in a neighbouring country, while 18 per cent said they send e-mail around the world.

The survey also found that a majority of office workers consider mobile access to the office important. About 65 per cent of respondents said it was "very" or "somewhat" important to stay connected when out of the office. About 53 per cent said their productivity depends on being able to access work e-mail.

For people who need to stay plugged in, the advancement of technology is making it easier. About 79 per cent of respondents said it is "somewhat" easy to keep in touch remotely. Of this group, 40 per cent said it is "very" easy.