BlackBerry mobiles have always been thought of as "business phones". In SmartPhone terms they are the only phones thought of specifically for business users first as their rivals are very much consumer models used by businesses. The only other phones made specifically for business are the rugged phones designed for workmen and tradesmen.
Newer BlackBerry phones have very much been aimed at broadening their appeal into the consumer market and there is evidence that this has succeeded with a large proportion of younger users carrying their devices. So are they still good for business?
Our customers certainly think so, with BlackBerry phones having 2 or 3 (or more) entries in our top sellers list every month. This is largely driven by their email service which is still highly thought of by many users.
They are also fairly reliable, with few visits to our repairs department in comparison with other SmartPhone handsets. Reliability is an overlooked feature by many businesses but think about it - you don't want to miss an important call, or even any call, because your handset is "playing up".
There are now enough different styles of BlackBerry handset so that you can choose one that fits with your usage, whether that be a touchscreen or QWERTY keyboard (or both with the BlackBerry Torch!) Are there any disadvantages to using BlackBerry?
The main disadvantage is the cost of certain tariffs. BlackBerry data is still charged at a higher rate than "standard" data even though it is the same thing! The iPhone also suffers the same fate on certain business mobile tariffs. So you can get a similar handset that will do most of the functions of a BlackBerry on a slightly reduced tariff in some circumstances.
However if you choose the right combination of tariff and handset the BlackBerry solution will serve your business well.
Another perceived disadvantage is the number of apps available for BlackBerry phones. This is certainly dwarfed by those for the iPhone. However BlackBerry apps tend to be business-centric so you are likely to find a good selection of serious business apps at BlackBerry World.
With the BlackBerry Playbook tablet they are looking at ways of increasing the number of apps you can run from a BlackBerry device with potential for running Android apps via special software. This type of innovation is likely to come to their phones in the future if it proves successful on the Playbook and it is practicable.
So if you are thinking about BlackBerry for your business take a closer look at the latest models and how they compare to other SmartPhones in terms of features and usability. As well as their handsets offering a range of different features there are also a variety of price tags so they are affordable for single users and small businesses.
Contact us for a quote for 1 BlackBerry or 100+. We can also advise regarding BlackBerry email solutions for your business including BIS, BES and BES Express. If we feel your business would be better suited to an alternative device we can help you there too having access to all UK handsets.