The latest Top 10 list of business mobile phones has been compiled based on December’s dispatch figures.

Continuing its good run of success is Nokia’s C2-01. It’s been a while since Nokia claimed top spot (May 2011 in fact) but their C series of phones are very popular with the C1-01 also making an appearance at number 5.

Nokia have 4 entries this month. After the C2-01 and the C1-01 which have already been mentioned they also have the E6 in fourth place and the perennial favourite, the 6303i, bringing up the rear in 10^th.

A new entry at 2 is the HTC Wildfire S. This Android-powered phone packs a lot in for its very modest price tag making it a winner with savvy businesses.

Down from top spot last month is the Apple iPhone 4S, although sales figures were still very good. December is a bumper month for phone sales as mobiles remain high on many people’s Christmas lists.

No Top 10 list would be complete without a tradesman’s phone, and this month at number 6 comes the Samsung B2100. In a similar vein is the Motorola ES400 at 8, this rugged phone also has a barcode scanner and is very much in favour with our transport sector clients.

Remaining at 7 is the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro. It looks like this is bucking the usual trend for Sony handsets and is continuing to be popular!

The last place in the list, at number 9, is for the BlackBerry Curve 8520. Not a good month for RIM, the manufacturers behind the BlackBerry brand, with a single entry only at a lowly position.

The Top 10 business mobiles for December 2011:

1. (2) Nokia C2-01
2. (-) HTC Wildfire S
3. (1) Apple iPhone 4S
4. (-) Nokia E6
5. (-) Nokia C1-01
6. (-) Samsung B2100
7. (7) Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
8. (6) Motorola ES400
9. (3) BlackBerry 8520 Curve
10. (4) Nokia 6303i

Don’t forget, as an independent business mobile dealer we can supply you with any UK handset on your network of choice. Contact us for pricing and a free quotation.

The figures are in for last month’s mobile phone sales and we’ve compiled them into a Top 10 as usual.

The new number 1 is no surprise, the much vaunted iPhone 4S is on the wish list for a lot of business users as well as consumers! After this there is a real mixture of handsets covering the whole spectrum of business mobiles from simple talk and text phones through to high-end SmartPhones.

At 2 is the Nokia C2-01. Whilst this looks like a basic phone at first glance it is a 3G handset and does handle email and web browsing. As an inexpensive business phone it fits the bill and, being a Nokia, it is likely to be durable and trouble free to operate.

Third in the list is the first of four BlackBerry phones, the 8520 Curve. Again this is a well-priced phone rather than being feature-packed, but for many business users this is the entry-level BlackBerry.

At 4 is Nokia’s second phone, the 6303i. Very similar in many respects to the C2-01 and an old favourite in our Top 10 lists. It’s not a phone that is going to be fashionable any time soon but as a business tool it does the job.

BlackBerry’s 2^nd entry is at 5, the 9780 Bold. A better handset than the 8520 it is also more expensive which makes it slightly less popular amongst savvy business users.

At 6 is the Motorola ES400. This is very much a specialist handset and is used by a lot of transport and logistics companies for its barcode reading and signature capture software.

Seventh position is occupied by the Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro. It’s not too often we see Sony Ericsson in the list, but this handset has a good spec at a reasonable price, hence its appearance.

No Top 10 list is complete without a “tough” phone. This month’s is no exception with the JCB Tradesman phone making it in at number 8.

Finally to round out the list are the BlackBerry 9300 Curve and the 9800 Bold. BlackBerry remains popular amongst business users, primarily for its email capabilities.

The full Top 10 business mobiles for November 2011:

1. Apple iPhone 4S
2. Nokia C2-01
3. BlackBerry 8520 Curve
4. Nokia 6303i
5. BlackBerry 9780 Bold
6. Motorola ES400
7. Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro
8. JCB Tradesman
9. BlackBerry 9300 Curve
10. BlackBerry 9800

 

As we approach the end of 2011 it is time to look forward to what 2012 is going to bring for your business. Outside of the retail sector many businesses will have time to attend to some housekeeping as business slows down approaching Christmas and the New Year.

This time could be used to look at all of your business outgoings and formulate a plan to reduce them or at least review them to ensure you have the best tariffs available for each of your different services.

One area in which businesses can save a lot of money is mobile communications. Telecoms technology is moving at such a pace that it is possible your current handsets are obsolete and newer mobile devices could help improve the way you work and drive the productivity of your employees.

Business mobile tariffs are also changing constantly offering you the opportunity to better match a tariff to your actual usage. By doing this you can eliminate either unused allowances that you are paying for or overspend on usage outside of bundled allowances.

Including business changes

During 2011 your business may have changed – more or fewer employees, different ways of working, new IT systems – all of these need to be factored in to a business mobile review. At the same time you need to consider likely changes in 2012 to ensure the chosen tariff will meet your requirements going forward.

New unified communications products such as Vodafone One Net can also be considered, particularly if your landline systems are also approaching end of life. A review encompassing all of your telecoms is available to ensure you optimise the different communication strands to achieve the best cost/benefit balance to maximise productivity and profit.

Implementing new devices into your organisation need not be disruptive and we are available for technical help and support in getting your new mobile devices up and running smoothly.

We have considerable expertise with the most popular business phones. This includes BlackBerry (and their data solutions – BIS, BES, BES Express), iPhone, and the latest SmartPhones. You will also benefit from your own account manager and a customer service team that are available when you need them.

 

Mobile technology is moving at such a pace that it's hard to keep up. Each manufacturer is trying to outdo the others with a new development, and every new development is then adopted, refined and extended by others.

Here are our idea of the Top 5 mobile phone developments (in no particular order), some of which have arrived (albeit in a limited way) and others which are coming in the future:

Mobile 3D

It's all the rage at the cinema and is now moving into the home market too. Developments in 3D without having to wear glasses means that 3D is now available on a handful of mobile handsets such as the HTC Evo 3D and LG Optimus 3D. More 3D content for mobiles is being developed which will further spur manufacturers to include it in future SmartPhone specs.

NFC

Near Field Communications. This is the technology found in contactless payment systems such as the Oyster Card. It will allow you to pay for small items such as newspapers, chocolate bars etc. with a swipe of your mobile. Handsets are already including it within their specs, although there are not many retailers where it can be used currently. Alliances between manufacturers, banks and mobile networks will ensure this system gains ground in the very near future.

4G

Whilst the current 3G mobile data network can only deliver a maximum of 14.4Mbps, 4G promises speeds up to 300Mbps. Unfortunately this is very much one for the future. Even though 4G is already available in some countries the likelihood is that it will not see the light of day in the UK until 2013.

Cloud Technology

As more businesses move their infrastructure into the cloud the need for mobile devices which can interact with this information on the move will increase. Whilst existing SmartPhones offer the connectivity, the user experience is not always good on a restricted size screen. Tablets can give a better experience but are harder to carry around. Devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Note, with its 5.3 inch screen, may become more popular as devices which offer the best of both worlds.

Voice Recognition

Could Siri, the personal assistant on Apple's new iPhone 4S based on voice recognition and limited AI, be a game changer? The signs are good. Early reports of its usefulness are very positive and it is almost certain that other manufacturers/OSs will be including more advanced voice recognition technology in the future.

We have compiled our Top 10 business mobile phones for October 2011 and there are some interesting results.

At the top of the list is the LG E900 Optimus 7 handset. We sent out a number of these for a large client who was specifically after Windows Phone 7 mobiles. This operating system is favoured by some server administrators and is also becoming more popular amongst consumers. Nokia's tie up with Microsoft and their release of 2 new SmartPhones powered by this OS will see its popularity grow.

The iPhone 4 remains as popular as ever. The new iPhone 4S is selling well too - Apple have reported it being their best ever iPhone launch.

BlackBerry have three handsets in the Top 10 and their Curve range, the 9300 3G and 8520 occupy the third and fourth places. The more expensive 9900 Bold completes the list at 10.

At numbers 5 and 6 are two of Samsung's tough phones, the B2710 and B2100. Ideal for workmen or those that tend to drop or damage their phones during the course of their work.

Nokia have the phones at 7 and 8. The Nokia 6303i, a regular in the list, and the C1-01. Finally, at number 9 is the HTC Wildfire, a great value SmartPhone running the Android OS.

The full list is as follows:

1. LG E900 Optimus 7
2. Apple iPhone 4
3. BlackBerry 9300 Curve
4. BlackBerry 8520 Curve
5. Samsung B2710
6. Samsung B2100
7. Nokia 6303i
8. Nokia C1-01
9. HTC Wildfire
10. BlackBerry 9900 Bold

Choose the best business mobile for your business

As independent mobile phone providers we can supply any handset available in the UK on a wide range of business tariffs. Contact us for more information.

From a single handset to several hundred we value every enquiry and work hard to save you money and improve your communications.

The new iPhone handset (it could be called the iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S) is thought by many to be officially announced on the 4th October. What we know for certain is that Apple have announced a "media event" for that day and this has sparked a lot of speculation that the iPhone 5 will be unveiled.

In fact Apple could unveil more than one new iPhone with a "5" version for developed markets and a simpler (and cheaper) iPhone for countries such as China where there is huge scope for more sales and to increase Apple's market share.

Whilst the iPhone 4 is the bestselling SmartPhone since launching mid 2010, Apple face increased competition from Google's Android operating system which now powers dozens of handsets with specifications to match the i4. Android now has 40% market share within the smartPhone marketplace.

There are many rumours circulating about what the iPhone 5 will contain in terms of features. They will have to be pretty good to convince iPhone 4 owners to upgrade, particularly if the i5 is as expensive at launch as many think it will be. The one solid rumour is an NFC chip which will enable contactless payment.

Apple may also have news on iCloud and iOS5 at the October event, we will detail all of the news as soon as it is available.

We still have Vodafone tariffs with reduced line rental. For shared minute tariffs of 3,000 minutes or more there is a 25% discount on the line rental for the lead handset. This could lead to savings of over £300 per month on the largest discount tariff.

Vodafone's data promotion is still running too, meaning that you can get half price on their 1GB package. Add these two together and you could save some serious money on your current contract by switching to Vodafone.

On top of this we are maximising the amount of subsidy for new handsets. This means you will be able to get better handsets free of charge on your chosen tariff. In some circumstances we will be giving away ALL of our up-front commission to you in the form of new phones or kit allowance.

Getting a better business mobile deal

When you contact a number of business mobile dealers you will find the same, or similar, tariffs on offer. Where the difference lies is in a number of areas:

• The value of kit they will supply to you
• The advice and help they can give you to pinpoint the best offers and deals
• Help with new technology and how it could improve productivity
  
• The level of customer service and care you receive

At Business Mobile World our aim is to both reduce costs and improve communications. In the long term this is far better for your business than simply cutting costs and going for the lowest quote regardless.

In fact be very wary when comparing quotes and ensure they are made on identical terms. If you take out the cheapest contract but it does not have sufficient inclusive allowances you could find that your first bill is much higher than you expected due to out-of-bundle charges.

It is only at this stage that you realise your mistake, but by this time you are tied in to a 24 month contract!

We are very open about our charges and how our deals and offers work. We put everything in writing and make sure you are happy with your deal before contracts are drawn up. The last thing we want is unhappy customers and complaints.

Who is eligible?

Any type and size of business is welcome to apply. From a single handset to several hundred. We will conduct a review of your current usage and bills to see where savings can be made. We also look at how you use your mobiles away from the office and whether you are getting maximum value from the features on offer.

The best mobile devices empower your workforce and drive productivity. Giving your employees the right tools to do the job will not only make them more efficient but happier too. No more struggling with out-of-date technology!

For larger business users and corporate mobile phone accounts the savings can run into tens of thousands over the course of a standard contract. This type of saving cannot be ignored and regular review of large accounts is a must.

Small and medium sized businesses will not see such large savings but a few hundred or thousand pounds saved, whilst simultaneously improving mobile communication, can only be a positive step for any business.

It's free to obtain a review which will be conducted at your convenience. Let us show you how our 15 year experience in the mobile phone sector can obtain the best business mobile deal for your company.
We can also talk to you about the future of telecoms and how data solutions, hosted services and unified communications could further improve productivity and give you a competitive edge.

The Business Mobile World website was launched exclusively for business mobile phones but we are also able to offer a full range of telecom products and services, many of which are complimentary and should be considered when reviewing your mobile contract.

For instance, we have an employee management solution which uses software on your mobiles in order to track employees in real-time. Because it utilises GPS on the mobile device it can record movements in vehicles, on foot and allow you to follow staff to within 5 metre accuracy wherever they may be.

This allows you to maximise efficiency, sending the right people to the closest jobs, and also acts as a compliance tool for lone worker protection. Mobile phone tracking is also ideal for grey fleet management as it does not rely upon a device fixed in vehicle.

When reviewing your business mobiles could this type of system be of benefit to you? If so it can be factored into your pricing and the right handsets, which are compatible with the tracking software, supplied as part of the deal.

Unified Communications

We can also assist you with unifying your communications. You will probably have heard of Vodafone One Net, the system which allows your landline calls to ring on your mobiles too (this is a very simple explanation of the One Net product - it does a lot more and offers a range of features not normally available to small businesses).

A review of your mobiles should not be made without thinking about your landlines too and how they could work together to make you more productive and also to save you money. We offer a range of products, as well as One Net, which could merge landline and mobiles and give you the best of both for the future.

It may be that your current phone system is coming to the end of its natural life. Do you want to replace it, with all of the associated costs involved, or think about a hosted solution which doesn't involve up-front expense or ongoing maintenance?

We can help you with these decisions, giving you a full telecoms review which is costed and clearly demonstrates the benefits to your business of new technology. You could find that a complete overhaul of your current systems and replacement with the latest telecoms products and services still leaves you better off than you were before.

Save money AND improve your communications - increase productivity AND reduce costs - it's an offer you should find hard to resist. Best of all it's free to contact us and receive a review and all UK businesses are eligible.

Mobile technology has advanced incredibly fast in the past couple of years. SmartPhones now offer a range of features which could help you be more productive whilst out and about, but which mobile phone is going to be best for your business?

Some businesses, particularly those involved in manual work, will have specific requirements such as phones that are rugged, designed to take some punishment, and will not need many of the SmartPhone's more advanced features, although there are now SmartPhones that offer tough casings and are resistant to dust, water and shocks to cater for all occasions.

Office based staff will likely need email and data connections as a priority and could also need the use of specific operating systems or applications. The phones may have to be specific to connect to your existing server infrastructure.

With new mobiles being released daily, finding which mobile phone is going to be best for your particular needs can be a daunting prospect. Let us take control and match the right mobile to your specific business needs. We can also advise regarding other mobile technology, such as tablet devices, which can further improve your communications.

Which mobile phones are best?

There is not a single "best" mobile phone that can do everything and be all things to all men. The best mobile for you depends upon your needs and preferences. For instance some people will insist on having touchscreen phones whilst others will only be able to get on with a full QWERTY keyboard.

We supply all manufacturers and models of mobile phones available in the UK. We are talking to customers about their requirements all of the time and from this experience can quickly narrow down which handset would be best for you and provide you with a variety of options to suit not only your needs but also your budget.

When taking out a business mobile contract you are not limited to one type of handset, you can select different ones for employees based upon their job roles, needs and preferences. These may vary in price but we will always try to supply them for you on the right tariff free of charge where possible.

As part of a free review we will look at which mobile handsets would be best for your business as well as tailoring a tariff and package which will reduce costs. From a single mobile handset to a corporate mobile phone solution we will work hard on your behalf to get the best deal in the market and keep your costs down on an ongoing basis.

Even if you are currently in contract we can undertake a review to see if we can better your current deal. It is often possible to buy out an existing mobile contract and change networks and save money in the process.

It's holiday time! Over the next few months many of us will be venturing overseas and will be taking our mobile phones with us. For some it will be for "emergencies" only, for others they will want to work in exactly the same way as they do in the UK.

Although roaming rates have started to come down, they remain incredibly expensive when compared to UK rates, even in developed countries like the US where local rates are lower than here.

Modern SmartPhones rely upon data for their services. Many apps are downloading data when you don't even realise it. Therefore it's essential to think about adding a roaming package before you set off to cover your likely usage.

Data packages for overseas use are considerably smaller than you would expect. It could be that you are only offered 50MB of data in your package. What can you do with 50MB?

It might be enough for collecting your emails (headers only, no attachments) and a little bit of website browsing (but not much). It's an incredibly small amount and once used up you are going to be charged standard data roaming rates at ££ per MB. Be careful!

If you are able to view your current monthly data usage, either on your handset or your online billing platform with the network, or if your network can tell you how much you use in an average month then you can find a suitable package that allows you to use your phone normally.

If no packages exist that are large enough (or affordable enough!) the only options are either to curb your usage (switching off data networks and updates and trying to find wi-fi wherever possible) or opt for a local sim card (providing your handset is unlocked).

You will then be paying a similar rate for data as you are charged here and can use your phone more often, although you will have a new number for talk and text purposes.

If data is not required and you are only looking for roaming voice bundles these are much more suitable. You can find bundles offering cheap rates or even offering to take overseas minutes out of your standard bundle.

Don't leave it too late to get your overseas bundles added. Trying to sort it out at the airport is too late! Call your network/dealer a week ahead to make sure you can get the right bundles activated in time for your trip.

For business mobile users overseas calls and usage can make up a large part of the bill, particularly if you deal with companies abroad and have employees taking regular business trips. In this instance it is wise to get the best underlying tariff to meet your requirements rather than rely upon bolt-ons which can be forgotten and lead to very large bills!

We are intermediaries, or brokers, between your business and the mobile network. Any problems or issues and you contact ourselves in the first instance. The benefits of this are that you have a single point of contact who is easy to get hold of, will respond to you and is accountable.

The first time you contact us will be when you are looking to get a quote for your business mobiles. This could be because your current contract is approaching its end point, has expired or because you are having problems with your current deal that you need sorting out.

At this point our aim is to work hard on your behalf to get you the best business mobile deal available that matches your communication requirements and budget. When you first contact us we will look at your current situation and usage to ascertain the minutes/texts/data you are going to need every month. Then we factor in the extras you may need and incorporate them into our review.

Usage patterns change over the course of a 2 year contract and it is possible that the tariff you now need is very different to the one you are currently on. We aim to fit the best tariff to your current usage but also keep an eye on your future plans to ensure they can be incorporated when necessary.

The best business mobile deal for you will not just focus on price but also on the hardware you receive which could improve your productivity. The latest SmartPhones will allow you to work in different ways and to do more when away from your premises. Similarly other mobile devices, such as tablets, can be used to give real benefits to your staff in the field.

We can offer a full range of devices and provide advice and guidance where necessary. If you already know what you want, or have very specific requirements to integrate with your current systems, we can supply the hardware as part of your contract.

If you don't require handsets at this stage, because your current ones are working fine, we can supply a kit allowance for future replacement. Or you can have some new phones and the balance in allowance. It's a flexible system that you won't get dealing direct with the networks.

We also offer added extras such as insurance and accessories (eg. hands-free kits). In fact whatever your requirements with regards to your business mobiles our job is to help you meet them.

All companies are eligible for a free review. From single handset users through to large businesses and corporate enterprises looking for hundreds of phones. It won't take long to get a quotation and to see what we can offer you. Getting the best business mobile contract could save your business a lot of money month after month.

The Business Mobile World website is changing regularly as technology in the mobile sector changes too. Whilst the focus is still very much mobile phones, many businesses are looking at SmartPhones and tablets to drive their business forward through the use of new technology, enabling flexible working.

We will shortly be adding new pages/sections for:

• BlackBerry phones and Playbook

• iPhone and iPad

SmartPhones and Tablets

For businesses looking to integrate their mobile devices with their office systems smart devices are the order of the day. The two big players here are Apple and RIM.

Apple's iPhone was a revolution, and, whilst most manufacturers now have devices of a similar capability, Apple's smartphone remains sought after. Up against it RIM's BlackBerry remains strong, with a loyal following amongst business users.

For tablets the big name is iPad. Although the new BlackBerry Playbook has only just been released there are already plenty of people looking to get hold of it and blanket advertising coverage is going to drive sales further.

Other manufacturers have very good devices - particularly Samsung with their Galaxy range. Which one is going to be best for your business?

At Business Mobile World we can supply a mixture of devices to give you the best options for your business. We ensure they will work together and offer you the most cost effective data tariffs based on your actual usage. We also have a dedicated IT team for set up and ongoing problem resolution.

Whether you want a single device or a hundred or more we can advise you regarding the best way forward. Get in touch for a free business mobile review.

BlackBerry mobile phones have always been thought of as primarily business devices, but have been gaining popularity amongst mainstream consumers, particularly 18-25 year olds. Is a BlackBerry mobile still the best for business?

Whilst BlackBerry very much dominated the business mobile market for many years, in recent times just about every manufacturer has brought out SmartPhones with at least comparable specs and features, and many of them have left the average BlackBerry behind.

RIM's attempts at touchscreens (the Storm and the Torch) have received very mixed reviews, to say the least, and their high end phones struggle to compete against the best from Apple, HTC and others.

Where BlackBerry have done well is in the middle market with affordable models such as the Curve 8520 and Curve 9300 3G (pictured above). These are very affordable handsets which still provide the best of BlackBerry's email and messaging service, which is the main reason to buy one. Unlike more expensive phones, these two can be obtained on lower tariffs free of charge making them ideal for small business users seeking to keep costs down.

Whilst they may not be feature packed, a lot of the "missing" features are not needed by the average business user so why pay for them?

For larger business users the attraction of BlackBerry is the control they have over their company mobile phones. By using a BES server their IT department can enforce strict security policies which protect business data. Should a BlackBerry be lost or stolen the device can be wiped remotely.

Whilst a BES server has a host of corporate features ideal for large companies it can be expensive due to licensing per user. Smaller businesses can still access BlackBerry email via BIS or BES Express, both of which are free of licensing costs.

BlackBerry's data compression remains the best on the market meaning that the amount of data you are consuming is reduced considerably. This makes them ideal for travellers overseas who can keep on top of emails with minimum extra costs.

For a comparison between BlackBerry and other manufacturers handsets get in touch to see the tariffs we can offer you, whether you want a single BlackBerry mobile or a hundred plus.

The maximum contract length networks can now offer is 24 months. Previously there had been 36 month contracts available but these must now be withdrawn. From a networks point of view a longer contract means more months to recoup the cost of the initial handset. This allows them to offer better phones on longer contract deals.

From a consumers view a longer contract means being tied in to potentially obsolete hardware for a long period. As mobiles evolve and become more powerful the desire to change phones for the latest features is strong. Taking out a shorter contract keeps your options open and means you can also take advantage of deals and offers when they are made available by the networks.

For business customers some tariffs offer mid-term upgrades. This means that after 12 months of a 24 month contract new handsets can be obtained. Depending upon how much the business is spending will determine how much subsidy there is for new handsets. You can then choose to upgrade some or all of the handsets in return for extending your contract by a further year.

Networks are also being forced to bring back 12 month contracts. However the offers available on these very short contracts may not be too attractive if you're looking for the latest SmartPhones.

When looking at buying a new mobile on contract always try to balance usage with contract length and handset price. As an example look at the 2 options below:

1. 24 month contract. £20 per month. 500 minutes. 100 texts. 500MB of data. Handset FREE.

2. 18 month contract. £25 per month. 600 minutes. 250 texts. 1GB of data. Handset £50.

Taking out option 1 will give you your new mobile free of charge. However the total cost is £480 and you are tied in for 2 years. With the second option you have to pay £50 up front, however the total cost across the life of the contract is just a little higher at £500 and in return you get more minutes/texts/data and a new phone 6 months earlier. Which works best for you?

These are fairly similar tariffs, meaning that the differentials are fairly small. For a low user, perhaps 100 minutes a month, the difference between a 100 minute tariff and a 500 minute one can be more substantial and going for a higher tariff with a lot of wasted minutes in order to get a phone free is not likely to work out as cost effective when the total costs of the contracts are compared.

For business mobile customers we do the comparisons for you, ensuring you get the best balance between hardware, tariff and contract term. This is done across all of the major business networks.

 

What is a "high usage alert"? It is a notice from your mobile network that there is abnormal or excessive usage on a particular number. This can be triggered by using more minutes or texts than usual, using data without a bolt-on and particularly for overseas usage.

This can be for normal usage but it can also be due to the handset being lost/stolen and used by the "new owner". These high usage alerts do not get sent straight away and can often be sent after several hundred pounds of charges have been run up.

Once you enter into a business mobile contract it is your responsibility to monitor your own usage to ensure that you do not receive a nasty shock when your bill arrives. Online billing has a number of options for you to keep track of all of your employees usage and ensure you remain within your chosen tariff wherever possible. You can set lower limits for notification ensuring excessive charges are not run up without your knowledge.

The problem with data roaming

One area where high usage alerts are commonplace is with roaming. Using your phone overseas is still extortionately expensive. In fact the charge per minute for you to use your UK phone overseas can be 100 times more expensive than using a local sim card!

Many phones are set by default to collect their emails and many applications use data in the background without you even knowing. Some applications are requesting data every few minutes. No problem in the UK if you have a data package but once you go abroad all of this data is costing you a small fortune.

Even if you add a roaming data bolt on the limits are incredibly small and a standard SmartPhone can run through this quickly. You can however disable application data and even data roaming completely on most modern handsets. Make sure you do this BEFORE you leave the country. It's easy to forget when you arrive at your destination.

If your phone is not locked to a particular network you can use a local sim card. For wi-fi enabled phones you can get your emails and data via local access points free of charge or perhaps for a small fee in your hotel. At least you know the charges in advance this way and won't come home to a large unexpected bill.

Tethering is also an absolute no-no when overseas. Tethering involves using your phone as a data modem for your laptop or netbook. Whereas a SmartPhone is optimised for data usage, only downloading email headers and avoiding large attachments, your laptop will not be and you will be downloading much larger amounts of data, all coming out of your mobile data allowance.

Bills of several hundred, or even several thousands, of pounds can be run up. So use your phone sparingly if possible, and if you have to use it make sure you get the necessary data bolt on before you go and switch off unnecessary application background data if possible.

The mobile networks used to offer unlimited data tariffs for SmartPhone users. However this did have the effect of encouraging people to use more and more data and as the number of people buying data enabled phones increased, the networks started to struggle with capacity.

In response to this data plans are now generally capped, with 500MB or 1GB being the norm. This also allows the networks to charge extra for excessive usage.

Many users are now used to consuming large amounts of data but are having to cut back under the terms of their new contracts as they come to the end of their contracts or upgrade. Is there an easy way to reduce your mobile phone data?

An application for the iPhone (3GS and 4) called Onavo can compress data usage from all other apps. It can double or even treble your data allowance. The app is free of charge and will shortly be coming to Android handsets too.

Where this app is particularly useful is when roaming. The cost of roaming data is still so high that being able to effectively halve your usage is going to save you money. It could be the difference between staying within your roaming allowance and exceeding it and incurring lots of nasty charges.

At the moment it works with standard data but not streaming or VoIP applications. It provides a detailed monthly data usage report so you can see where your allowance is being used and change your behaviour as necessary in order to avoid excessive data charges.

Most modern SmartPhones will be set up as standard to optimise data usage. Downloading only email headers, not the full emails, and ignoring large attachments will keep your data usage down. If you override these settings make sure you change them back before you go overseas.

Double check your app settings to see how often they update - they could be attempting to collect data every few minutes. Multiply this by a number of apps and you are connecting frequently without knowing just by having them run in the background.

Also look for wi-fi points whenever available. You can usually switch network data off and rely upon wi-fi only. As more wi-fi points come online it becomes easier to get around without the need for your mobile network and still keep connected.

If you absolutely have to use network data, particularly when overseas, make sure your contract is updated to reflect this. Whilst many roaming data bundles do not represent great value, they are still better than standard rates and if you minimise your data usage by changing your settings as above you can still stay in touch without breaking the bank.

 

Nokia, still the largest mobile phone manufacturer by volume, is moving away from its own Symbian Operating System which will be transferred to Accenture to maintain it. This will enable it to concentrate on its partnership with Microsoft and the Windows Phone 7 OS which will be included with its new SmartPhones at some point in the future.

Symbian is not considered by many as a competitor for Android, iOS and BlackBerry OS which has led Nokia to ally itself with Microsoft in a bid to regain some of its lost market share. Whether these two giants combined might can make a dent in their competitors is yet to be seen and doubts about their ability to compete has led to Nokia's market valuation sliding in recent months.

Whilst the mobile news is generally dominated by Android and iOS and their seemingly unstoppable rise, Symbian remains the largest OS worldwide and is used by other manufacturers as well as Nokia. We haven't seen the end of it quite yet.

Lower-end phones will still be running it for some time to come and, for many users, it will serve them well, providing the functions they need. For more advanced users there is a wide choice of SmartPhone handsets, available free of charge on a range of tariffs running a number of different operating systems.

Whilst consumers may shun Windows Phone 7 in favour of Android there will be many business users who will find the full integration with their current Microsoft-powered IT infrastructure attractive. Ally this to Nokia's solid and reliable handsets and it COULD be a winning combination for some businesses.

At Business Mobile World we can advise you regarding the latest SmartPhones and operating systems and how they could help your business perform better.  

Recent research, conducted on behalf of Vodafone across a range of businesses, has shown that one fifth of British workers believe the way their own business runs its communications is preventing them from carrying out their job properly.

For workers out in the field this is particularly important as the ability to work wherever they need to could improve their productivity enabling them to communicate in the way that best suits them and the job that they do.

However, it also applies to workers who do have a desk in an office, with 23% saying they do not spend most of their time sat at it.

SmartPhones are the most desirable communication tools, with 31% of those surveyed saying it would enable them to carry out their job more effectively. 37% said they currently have no access to flexible communication tools.

The conclusion of the survey was very much that businesses should take an individual approach to their employees communications, tailoring the tools available directly to the job they do. Whilst a flexible communications policy does throw up security issues, these can usually be addressed without too much trouble.

The research is clear evidence that increased productivity can be gained by strengthening employee collaboration and customer interaction. Better communications technology will also help organisations attract the best employees and improve staff retention.

For many businesses, particularly small businesses, the costs of implementing better communications could be perceived to be high. However, in reality SmartPhones are now available cheaply on a range of small business tariffs.

Even small changes to the type of handsets available to staff, offering enhanced communication features, will make a difference to their ability to get the job done whilst away from the office.

There are also SmartPhone based employee management solutions which allow you to keep track of where your staff are at any given time allowing you to make better decisions based on real-time data and therefore reduce costs and improve productivity.

For total communication solutions, integrated with your existing telecoms, contact us on 0115 944 8977.

Google's Android operating system is continuing its upwards path with sales figures increasing daily. It is estimated that around 350,000 Android devices are being activated EACH DAY around the globe. This represents a 17% rise from February. 90% of these activations are thought to be SmartPhones with the remainder on tablets.

One of the main beneficiaries of Android's popularity is the handset manufacturer HTC who have a number of Android-powered handsets. They have now become the most valuable handset manufacturer in terms of market value, overtaking Finnish giants Nokia.

HTC's meteoric rise is due largely to their decision to power so many of their phones with Android, whereas Nokia have perservered with their own OS, Symbian, and have now thrown their weight behind Windows Phone 7, which many commentators believe is a backwards step.

Some of HTCs Android phones include:

• HTC Wildfire
• HTC Desire
• HTC Incredible
• Google Nexus One
• HTC Legend

Other manufacturers have also thrown their weight behind Android and it is this range of phones available which gives Android the edge over other operating systems. If you want an Android phone with a great camera, there will be several to choose from. In fact whichever features are most important to you there will be an Android phone that caters for it.

The popularity of Android is also driving the number of available apps skyward. This in turn leads to more people wanting to use Android. Savvy app developers now develop with Android in mind first as it is the dominating OS in the SmartPhone arena.

This spiral of success shows no signs of abating. Even if Apple develop something amazing in iOS 5 you can bet it will quickly be emulated in Android by any number of other manufacturers.

If you haven't yet tried Android give it a go. It's easy to use and powerful. We are certainly seeing a lot of our business customers asking for Android SmartPhones and they seem very happy with them. 

 

Research has suggested that nearly three-quarters of all mobile phone users are paying more than they have to on their mobile contracts. The average saving of getting the correct tariff amounts to around £200.

There are two distinct categories of user who are paying over the odds. The first group are the over estimators. They take out contracts with far more minutes than they actually use. In fact the average usage is only a quarter of their inclusive minutes, leaving three quarters wasted.

The reason for this is thought to be the fear of "bill shock" where a large unexpected bill arrives for going over your allocated allowances. There is also the possibility that people are taking out larger tariffs than they need in order to get the latest expensive SmartPhones free of charge.

The second group of over-spenders are the under estimators. They take out contracts with low inclusive limits and then regularly exceed them leading to charges every month.

With minutes and texts it is quite easy to keep track of your usage, although many users choose not to and are surprised by their monthly bill, but with data it is harder to quantify exact usage. That is because viewing different web pages, even on the same site, can lead to different download amounts and these are not always obvious to the end user.

With business mobiles the potential for savings by being on the correct tariff is magnified. That is where we come in. If you already have business mobile phones we can look at your current bills to provide the optimum tariff for your actual usage.

Staggeringly the research suggests there are currently a total of 8,134,979 different contract permutations on offer to mobile phone customers in the UK. This is where expert help comes in handy.

For many business users savings can amount to several thousand pounds by getting the right tariff combination. We can also advise regarding the best handsets for your usage and getting the best VALUE phones, not simply trying to obtain the most expensive without the need for many of their features.

It is not just mobiles where businesses are over paying. Landlines, broadband and across the full range of telecom products and services there are savings to be made without any loss of service quality.

The iPhone 5 is due sometime this year. But what will it feature? What will make it stand out? What do Apple have up their sleeves to top the current Android phones that are selling so well? There are lots of rumours out there which we have compiled below.

Some may turn out to be true, others not, but we can almost certainly guarantee that the iPhone 5 will be eye-wateringly expensive and just as surely not worth the money! Not that that's going to stop it selling by the bucketload!

When will the iPhone 5 be available?

It's tipped to be unveiled officially week commencing June 6th at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco. iOS 5 may also be shown off at this event and could well power the iPhone 5.

The phone itself could be launched in July - it's unlikely that there will be a long delay between unveiling and launch as this will see rival manufacturers jumping on the bandwagon of any new ideas.

What will the iPhone 5 feature?

It's a safe bet that it will be faster (dual-core?) and possibly thinner. It could well have a bigger screen. It will surely be more throughly tested than the iPhone 4 in terms of its antenna and signal quality. The case may even have changed substantially to ensure signal quality.

Battery life is expected to be improved. NFC contactless technology may also feature following its inclusion in Android's 2.3 update. There could also be an AM/FM radio, rumoured following an Apple patent for radio mapping. Could it include some form of 3D too?

One area in which iPhones have never been strong is the camera. Rumours are that the iPhone 5 camera could be 8 megapixel, manufactured by Sony? Storage could also be increased up to 64GB for the top model, in line with the iPad 2.

Could the iPhone 5 be dockable in the same way as the Motorola Atrix, turning it into a computer? Read our article The end of laptops as we know them? to find out more how this could work and the benefits it could offer.

These are just a few of the rumours floating around about the iPhone 5. It won't be long to wait until the beginning of June to see which were true.

 

For the second time this year, and the second month in succession, the BlackBerry Curve 8520 has topped the list of Top 10 business mobiles. This is based upon despatch figures for the month across our range of websites.

BlackBerry remains a popular choice for business users, particularly for those who consider email a major part of their business needs. The BlackBerry 8520 has the following specification:

• 2.4" screen
• Full QWERTY keyboard
• Up to 32GB storage
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
• 2MP camera with video
• 512MHz processor
• Organiser

The 8520 is one of three BlackBerrys in the list, the other two being the BlackBerry 9300 Curve (5) and the BlackBerry 9800 Torch (10).

Nokia have four phones in the Top 10, with the 6303i being their highest entrant at number 2. This phone is ideal for talk and text users and does have plenty of other features for those looking for email or internet on a "light usage" basis.

Other notable mobiles in the Top 10 include the Apple iPhone 4, which ranks highly for the third month in succession. The iPhone 5 is rumoured to be coming June or July. More news on specification, release date and pricing will follow once known.

The Motorola Defy makes its second appearance. This is a very highly thought of SmartPhone which is gaining good reviews.

Finally the list is completed with a perrenial favourite, the Samsung M110 rugged phone. Ideal for workmen and those in tough industries, or even just accident prone business users! If you drop your phone a lot this one could be for you.

 

There is considerable interest in a new phone from Motorola, the Atrix. It's not out yet and probably won't see the light of day until the summer in the UK but in the meantime the specs it boasts are making people take notice.

It has a dual core processor combined with 1GB of RAM which makes it the fastest mobile phone yet developed. However, this is not the most interesting thing about this phone! As you can see from the picture below, the Motorola Atrix is designed to be used with a special dock which includes a screen and keyboard and turns it into a fully functioning laptop.

 

Could this be the end of the laptop as we know it? One of the factors that will determine whether this type of arrangement succeeds is pricing. The Motorola docking station is set to retail around £400 - this is a lot of money, particularly when you add it to the cost of the phone (expected to be around £400).

As well as a full laptop dock there is a smaller dock which you can connect to a monitor with bluetooth keyboard and mouse. To see the two arrangements in action go to this You Tube Motorola Atrix video.

The idea of having everything in one place on an extremely portable device is bound to appeal to many users. It is also interesting other manufacturers, and HTC, amongst others, are rumoured to be developing something which is similar in idea.

Competition amongst manufacturers is always welcome and will surely see prices dropping in the coming months. As with all new technology first adopters will have to pay a big premium to be the first to own the next "must have" gadget.

Once prices are confirmed we will post them here as well as any competitors, some of whom may even be able to release their versions before the Atrix.

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.

 

The words BlackBerry and email are synonomous. BlackBerry mobiles are often purchased because of their email capabilities, which requires a special data plan with many networks.

For individual users these handsets are often sold on special "BlackBerry Tariffs" which include data usage. Often the charge for BlackBerry data is higher than that for other handsets.

For business users with multiple BlackBerry phones there are different email solutions to consider.

BlackBerry BIS (BlackBerry Internet Service)

This does not require any hardware or special equipment and is the standard solution for small businesses and individuals. Allows users to access web-based POP3, IMAP, and Outlook Web App (not via Exchange ActiveSync) email accounts without connecting through a server. It is the cheapest and easiest BlackBerry email package.

BlackBerry BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server)

The BlackBerry BES service connects to messaging and collaboration software on enterprise networks. It redirects emails (push email) and synchronizes contacts and calendar information between servers, desktops, and mobile devices. It contains advanced security features for corporate environments and is the most expensive of the BlackBerry email solutions. It is normally the domain of the IT department to set it up and look after it and requires licences for all users.

BlackBerry BES Express

Sitting somewhere between the other two it contains many, but not all, of the features of BlackBerry BES (often now referred to as "full" BES now there is a reduced version). It is free of charge, subject to a data plan. The download does need to be installed, or hosted, on a server.

For advice on implementation and installation of the various BlackBerry email solutions contact us. We can also assist with choosing BlackBerry phones and getting the right tariff for your business.

 

Would you like a free mobile phone for your business? We have a range of mobiles available free of charge on a variety of tariffs. Our basic business tariff starts at £25 and includes the following:

• 500 mobile minutes
• 3,000 landline minutes
• 250 texts
• 500MB of data

This includes a free mobile handset. You could choose from the following:

• BlackBerry Curve 8520
• HTC Wildfire
• Nokia X6
• Sony Ericsson Elm

For business users looking for more mobile minutes the tariffs rise as follows:

• 750 mobile minutes - £30
• 1,000 mobile minutes - £35 (data increased to 750MB)
• 1,250 mobile minutes - £40 (data increased to 750MB)
• 2,000 mobile minutes - £45 (data increased to 1GB)

All of these tariffs include texts, data and landline minutes as above. They are on the Vodafone network and subject to 24 months contract.

With higher tariffs the choice of free business mobile available becomes greater. This brings in the likes of the BlackBerry 9800 Torch, Apple iPhone, HTC Desire HD and a host of other SmartPhones.

Large business mobile tariffs

For business users looking for more than one handset contact us to get the best deals. We can supply multiple free handsets, either the same or a range of different ones to suit different tastes and jobs.

We can cater for SMEs with 5 or more mobiles and corporate mobile users with several hundred handsets. The greater the number of handsets the more value we can bring to your business in terms of cost reductions and communication improvements.

As well as Vodafone business mobile tariffs we also offer Orange and O2 contracts. We can help you with upgrades and with solving problems with your existing mobile dealer.

For a free no obligation discussion on your business mobile needs call 0115 944 8977 or complete our online enquiry form.

Business Mobiles - it always used to be about getting a lower price when your contract was due for renewal. This was because phones did not do much more than talk and text and there was little difference between handsets.

Whilst cost reductions should never be ignored, now it is also about considering value for money. You may have to pay more to get the right handsets for your business but they could pay for themselves quickly with an increase in productivity as a result of their features.

"Work smarter, not harder" - an advertising slogan from a few years ago that is very apt when considering mobile phones today. The SmartPhone is dominating the market currently and as their popularity grows so are the functions they can perform via new apps.

It is not just larger businesses where these features are being integrated into their communication policies, small businesses can gain from a number of features offered by SmartPhones.

Getting value for money on your business mobiles is about striking the right balance between the handsets you receive and the tariff you need. For instance, taking out a higher tariff with allowances beyond your needs in order to get a handset free of charge makes little sense in the long run when you add in all of the cost factors.

Also taking out the very latest mobiles on your tariff when you don't need the features offered is folly. The high end handsets tend to have more problems by virtue of the incredible hardware and software that's packed into them. If you only want to use your phone to talk, get a sensible talk and text phone. If you work in a hard industry, get a "tough" phone to withstand the damage that could be inflicted during your work.

When analyzing your current contract look at the extra charges being incurred. If you are regularly paying extra for calls, texts and data it is likely you are on the wrong tariff. Similarly if you never exceed your allowances and have a lot left each month you might be better off on a reduced tariff.

It might be that your usage varies wildly between months, perhaps your business is seasonal, and the best value tariff needs to be calculated as a whole across the full length of the contract rather than on a monthly basis.

There are a range of variables which means that the best value business mobile contract offered by different suppliers will vary. Always get at least a couple of opinions before committing to a new contract. Perhaps we can suggest better ways to use your phones in order to improve productivity and profitability.

 

We provide a full range of telecoms products and services, from mobile phones to VoIP phone systems, across a wide range of sectors throughout the UK. Businesses of all sizes can benefit from a free telecoms review and the larger your business is the more money we will likely be able to save you.

Transport companies are particularly reliant upon their communications supplier as they have employees constantly on the road needing to keep in touch. Most transport companies will also have some form of tracking, either vehicle or device based.

Whether your fleet is large or small, its management is likely to rely upon your telecoms and good fleet management will save your business money and improve productivity.

Our current portfolio of clients includes many in the transport sector giving us an insight into the challenges faced and the solutions available to make your transport business more efficient than your competitors.

With fuel prices rocketing currently, managing your fleet with the latest technology could reduce your fuel bills. Device tracking software has come on in leaps and bounds and many organisations already have suitable phones for the software download.

As well as reducing fuel bills, modern tracking systems can assist in job despatch and streamlining and automating your administration processes. The savings can be large, even for small and medium-sized transport fleets.

A telecoms review with us will focus on:

• Mobile phones
• Landline phones (lines/systems/calls)
• Vehicle tracking and employee management
• Broadband and IT

Ensuring these work together well will give you the optimum performance. Sourcing all of your telecoms from one source gives you the greatest cost savings and also ensures there are no grey areas should problems arise.

 

Good communication is essential in all businesses. Communication between employees, between departments, between offices, even between countries. That is just internal communications - the real difference between companies in many sectors, particularly where price differential is marginal, is how they communicate with their customers, and potential customers.

Businesses that place a real focus on their communication, utilising new technology to make their customer experience better, are going to gain market share over those that are stuck in the dark ages (in telecoms technology terms at least!)

The average business has a range of telecommunications which can be optimised to ensure maximum efficiency and productivity. This includes mobile phones, landlines and broadband. Then there are added services which your business might not have yet but which could deliver real benefits, such as call management and employee management (device tracking).

As and when your telecoms products and services become due for renewal you should take the opportunity for a full communications review to see how existing products can be improved and new products can be added to improve efficiency and productivity.

It is tempting, particularly amongst small businesses, to focus entirely on the contract that is due at that moment in isolation and to look only at cost reductions. This can be a mistake. These days telecoms need to integrate with each other and with your IT infrastructure and to neglect this synergy could leave you struggling with obsolete technology for a 2 year contract whilst your competitors improve their communications and gain customers that could have been yours.

Effective business communication cannot be achieved without technology, and the pace of change in the telecoms sector could leave your business floundering if you don't seek expert help and guidance to ensure you achieve the optimum balance between improving your telecoms and reducing your tariffs.

If you are a business decision maker reading this article now and you recognise that your company could benefit from a telecoms review please contact us. It doesn't matter if your contracts are not yet due, we can look at moving them at renewal date or even buying them out if this would benefit your business in the long run.

Don't struggle along with obsolete technology holding you back. Your business can grow with improved communications and the cost of investment is often less than you think or even free for new mobile handsets.

With 15 years experience in the mobile technology sector we can offer your business the opportunity to power ahead of your competitors with the latest communications hardware and a range of tariffs to suit all sizes of company. Contact us for more information.

Business Mobile World are based near Nottingham giving us easy access to customers throughout the East Midlands counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. We are mobile phone dealers primarily involved with business contracts but we do also offer upgrades for several networks and new consumer connections via our partner sites.

Business Mobiles in Nottinghamshire

Having your business mobile phones handled by a local company means that you will benefit from a more personal service. If handsets break and need replacing this can be done quickly and any problems can be resolved face-to-face with a real person not over the phone to a call centre.

Mobile phone upgrades

When your contract is nearing its end you will be able to upgrade your phone in return for re-signing with the network. We can help you with Orange upgrades and O2 upgrades for individuals. Get in touch with us to see what deal we can put together for you.

New mobile connections

The best deals are available on new connections. If you are changing network you will benefit from a better handset and possible free gifts in order to entice you to sign. Some of the latest SmartPhones available include:

• Nokia N8
• HTC Desire HD
• BlackBerry Torch 9800
• Google Nexus S
• Samsung Galaxy S
• HTC Wildfire
• BlackBerry Bold 9780

These can all be found at UK Mobile Phone Deals, many with free gifts and cashback offers.

If it's a single mobile phone, or several if you are a business user, that you are after we offer a range of different options and tariffs to suit. Just contact us for a free no obligation quotation.

 

SmartPhones are all the rage and make up a large proportion of our sales. Two of the latest models which are highly rated are the Nokia N8 and the BlackBerry Torch 9800. More details below......

Nokia N8

Running the Symbian operating system with a 680MHz processor this smart looking phone offers the following features:

• 3.5" AMOLED capacitive touchscreen
• 16GB internal storage expandable up to 32GB
• 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity
• 12MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, Xenon flash
• Push Email
• GPS with A-GPS support
• TV-out via HDMI
• Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)

These are just some of the features of this stylish phone offering business users the best of both business funtionality and leisure usage.

BlackBerry Torch 9800

This BlackBerry is unlike the others as it comes with a 3.2" touchscreen which slides up to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. In fact there aren't many phones which operate in a similar manner. Could it be a groundbreaker, paving the way for similar phones from other manufacturers?

For the business user with regular email use the BlackBerry email software combined with a full keyboard make this one a potential winner. Initial feedback from our customers is good. Here's some of the other features:

• 4GB storage expandable up to 32GB
• 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity
• 5MP camera
• BlackBerry OS 6.0 with 624MHz processor
• Push email
• GPS with A-GPS support
• BlackBerry Maps
• Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and organizer

The BlackBerry Torch 9800 stands out with its (almost) unique design and it will certainly suit some users to a tee.

At Business Mobile World we offer a full range of SmartPhones combined with a range of tariffs from the major networks to help your business save money and improve your way of working at the same time.

At Business Mobile World we concentrate on delivering business tariffs and contracts. For businesses with 5+ handsets this option normally works out better for them and we can save them some money. However, where a business just wants one or two phones we struggle to compete with consumer tariffs and offers.

This is particularly noticeable on the latest SmartPhones where the high cost of the phones, which we have to fund out of our commission, means that the tariffs on which we can provide the handset free of charge are uncompetitive, particularly when you have to add VAT at 20% on top.

As a result we are now offering single handset users a range of the best deals on the latest SmartPhone handsets via consumer contracts rather than business. The current phones which we have highlighted are:

• HTC Desire HD
• Nokia N8
• BlackBerry Torch 9800
• Samsung Galaxy S
• Apple iPhone 4

However, this is not a complete list, you can find all of the latest handsets by visiting our consumer mobile deals page and clicking on the Android image.

As well as great SmartPhones with low prices you can also benefit from free gifts. These include:

• TVs
• Laptops
• Games Systems
• Tablet PCs
• Cashback

Signing up online is easy and many of the SmartPhones are available for free next day delivery.

For those looking for business mobile contracts we can still offer you them for single handsets, just complete our online enquiry form for your free quote.

We currently have some great offers on the latest SmartPhones for business users. SmartPhones offer your business outstanding new features with emails, web browsing and thousands of business applications on the move, and much more.

They are the ultimate business tool and 2011 is going to continue their surge towards market dominance. They are high quality phones and this does mean they are pricey to buy sim-free but we have a range of SmartPhone tariffs to provide them free of charge - get a smart deal on SmartPhones.

Some of the available SmartPhones currently include:

• Nokia N8 (pictured right)
• HTC Desire HD
• Motorola Defy
• BlackBerry Torch
• iPhone 4

We can guide you through the advanced features of these phones and help you make the right decision for your business. SmartPhone features include:

• Fast efficient email
• Contacts and calendar functions
• Advanced internet features
• Flexible Working benefits
• Keep in full touch with the office
• Range of business apps
• Increased capacity for data and file sharing
• High performance cameras, video and graphics

If you haven't already got SmartPhones in your business give yourself a competitive edge. Contact us for a free discussion about the latest SmartPhones and we'll identify the right one for you and get you the best business mobile deal.

 

Business iPhone? Is the iPhone a business phone? The jury has been out for a while on this one but finally the verdict is in - the Apple iPhone is a business phone. Here's the evidence....

As every month we have compiled our list of Top 10 business mobile phones for November. This month we have a new number 1, for the first time ever, the Apple iPhone.

The iPhone has been hanging around the Top 10 for a while now, since the release of the iPhone 4. It has definitely gained in popularity with business users, culminating in its number one position last month.

We are seeing an increasing number of businesses requesting the iPhone and, with prices not as high as they once were, we can supply them free of charge on a range of business mobile tariffs.

Some of the features offered by the iPhone to business users include:

• Microsoft Exchange, IMAP, CalDAV and CardDAV integration
• Hardware encryption and enhanced Data Protection
• VPN and Wi-Fi protocols including SSL VPN
• Secure access to corporate intranets
• Visual Voicemail
• GPS-powered Maps
• Range of business apps available
• Ability to build own apps

With so many people using the iPhone in their personal lives it makes it easy for them to utilise all of the phone's features in a business context.

So it really is the "business iPhone" - could your business benefit from changing handsets and upgrading to the iPhone 4? For a free no obligation evaluation and quotation just get in touch.

To see the full Top 10 business mobile phones for November, in which the iPhone came out number 1, follow this link...Top 10 business mobile phones.

What could your business achieve by mobile and flexible working? Communications technology can improve the performance of organisations by enhancing workplace conditions, improving employee satisfaction and increasing productivity. These are just a few of the benefits.

Others include cost reductions, reducing carbon footprint, an increase in efficiency, improvements to customer service and better staff retention. The quality of a company’s customer service can be the difference between success and failure.

Businesses are more concerned than ever with the customer service they provide. According to a Global Consumer Survey by Genesys, 75 per cent of consumers say they would do business with a company based on a great customer experience, while 50 per cent say the  last time they stopped doing business with a company was partly or wholly due to poor customer service.

Another factor to consider when thinking about flexible working is business continuity. In the event of a major problem such as severe weather where the majority of your employees are unable to make it into work could your business continue to function? With a flexible working solution your employees have the tools to do their work wherever they are.

Flexible working gives you and your employees a platform to effectively communicate, share and interact together from anywhere and at any time using a range of different mobile devices. This includes mobile phones, laptops, netbooks, tablets etc. integrated with your fixed line system and IT.

A flexible working approach does not have to mean increasing costs and will deliver real tangible benefits to your business or organisation in the long run. Contact us for a free evaluation and to discuss the benefits of a unified communications solution.

 

As always there is plenty going on in the world of business mobiles. We will shortly be seeing the first handsets with the Windows Phone 7 operating system. This OS would seem to be a radical departure from past Windows Phone efforts but Microsoft are very much playing catch-up at the moment.

Windows Phone 7 includes plenty of features that Smartphone users now take for granted such as touch technology, social networking and cloud based services. Is there any innovation built in? The views so far seem to indicate it will be good to look at, fast and user friendly - will that be enough to compete with Android and iPhone?

Many new mobile handsets will also have the capability to make and receive calls in HD. Orange are the first network supporting this. HD should ensure a better quality call.

Birmingham City Council are trialling 4G technology. Much quicker than 3G and more stable this is expected to become widely available throughout the UK in 2012. The UK sits 24th in the latest global survey of mobile broadband.

4G mobile broadband could be up to 50mbps or greater, compared with the current 7.2mbps. The EU is making noises with regards to closing the gap between browsing in your home country and overseas, the difference between the two being up to 30 times in terms of cost. The EU would like to see this figure much closer to zero, reflecting Europe as a true single market.

The Apple iPad is gaining popularity amongst business users and is replacing laptops for many employees. It does have a number of business features built-in as well as numerous business and enterprise apps available to download.

As part of the 21c Telecom Ltd group of websites we are now Vodafone Platinum partners. This puts us in an elite group of around 25 telecoms consultants and enables us to provide you with excellent service on the Vodafone network.

 

 

Business VoIP usage is set to double by 2015. More businesses are taking advantage of the flexibility and range of extra options made available with this new technology. Integrating landline and mobile phones so that you can receive calls how you want wherever you are from a single number.

As technology advances, and more and more devices talk to each other, a total communications solution will become the norm amongst medium and large sized businesses. Small businesses need not be left behind.

Computer technology allows VoIP phone systems to be hosted remotely (in the cloud) which means that SMEs do not need costly hardware nor do they need a team of in-house IT experts in order to run it.

Costs are not as expensive as you might think and are coming down all the time. Simultaneously the reliability of VoIP systems is improving all of the time. Providing you have a reasonable broadband connection you will receive excellent call quality.

Broadband costs are coming down and even a dedicated broadband line is now within reach of many more businesses than was once the case.

Mobile phones can also be integrated within your system. The latest handsets have incredible power, more akin to computers than phones, and can make a lot of routine business tasks easier. You are now able to carry your office in your pocket effectively.

We are specialists at providing integrated business telecoms solutions. We can analyse your current systems and suggest improvements and cost savings where appropriate. You could end up paying less whilst obtaining a better system and improved lines of communication throughout your business.

A free quotation is available for all of our website visitors, just contact us for more information.

The latest operating system from Microsoft, Windows Phone 7, is due to be released on UK handsets this month. It is said to be the most tested and, therefore, bug-free operating system for mobile smartphones released from MS.

The length of time in the making does mean that it is significantly behind the Apple and Android OSs and it is yet to be seen whether their features such as Xbox  integration will have enough appeal to gain them significant market share.

Their new devices will feature social networking heavily as well as device integration. Is this enough to reverse their declining smartphone market share? (from 20% to around 5%).

Key partners include the mobile phone manufacturers LG, Samsung, HTC and Dell, and they have all five of the network operators (Orange, Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile and 3) on board too.

From a business perspective the new handsets should integrate with existing Microsoft IT in a seamless manner. Many businesses prefer to use a Windows based operating system for their smartphones as it makes their life easier using a familiar platform.

Initial handset releases will focus on the consumer market with business mobile phones to follow in due course. Once handsets have been officially announced we will carry more information about Windows Phone 7 mobiles here.

 

 

 

As with the iPhone the iPad seems to be leading a revolution. All of the major phone and computer manufacturers appear to be interested in bringing out their own tablets with some available now and some announced as "coming soon".

Bridging the gap between a mobile phone and a laptop the tablet would appear to have little appeal to business users, outside of a few niche markets. That might be about to change now as RIM, the company behind BlackBerry, announce their PlayBook will be available in 2011, squarely aimed at business users.

As with BlackBerry mobile phones the new PlayBook will run on its own operating system specifically developed for tablet computing, BlackBerry Tablet OS. This is especially web friendly and supports both Adobe’s newest Flash standard, as well as HTML5. This is in contrast to the iPads lack of Flash support, which is one of its main drawbacks.

Where Apple lead the way by a considerable margin is in the apps department. There are so many already available that it will be near impossible for others to ever catch up. However RIM are making it as easy as possible for developers to create new apps for their new OS and to port across existing apps.

Business focussed apps would be a differential for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, particularly if there are large enough numbers produced.

Whilst only a prototype model has yet been seen by anyone outside of RIM they already have a full spec for the finished product, some of which includes:

• 7 inch 1024 x 600 multi-touch screen
• 1GHz dual-core CPU and 1GB of RAM
• Two cameras (front and back) with HD video and video calling
• Ability to connect to BlackBerry smartphone

Expected release date for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is thought to be Q1 2011 for the US market with the UK getting them in Q2.

A radio report heard this morning detailed how the police force are making use of BlackBerry mobiles to save officers time whilst out and about and enable them to do more "beat" work and less desk-based administration.

The BlackBerry phones can access police databases and also enable officers to fill in paperwork and transmit it back to the station. This is helping them save money and increase police presence on the streets.

This example of taking advantage of the advanced functionality of BlackBerry business mobiles shows that improvements in employee communications can deliver real benefits in terms of time-saving and cost reduction.

Communication improvement is a core feature of a free review from Business Mobile World. As well as looking at reducing your business mobile tariff where possible we also look to the latest handsets and what they can offer your business.

New features, and particularly new apps, are appearing all of the time. Many are aimed at business users and helping employees whilst out and about in the course of their work. BlackBerry apps are particularly focused towards business users as this remains their core user-base.

BlackBerry phones do not have to be expensive either, there are reasonably priced options for small businesses and light users. The BlackBerry Curve 8520 provides most of the features of the more expensive models (particularly the excellent BlackBerry email service) and is available free of charge on most business tariffs.

For a free BlackBerry business mobile quotation get in touch with us via phone or email.

With the ever increasing sales of smartphones, offering all of the gadgets and apps you could ever need, it seems to be forgotten that the main function of a phone is for voice calls. However, has the quality of voice calls increased markedly in the last few years? Not really.

That is all set to change with the introduction of High Definition (HD) voice calls. This will give a measurable improvement in the sound quality of traditional mobile voice calls. They should sound as though you are face-to-face with the other person with a reduction in background noise, hisses and crackles.

Orange are the first network to offer this service via Orange HD Voice. This is available on a limited number of handsets but expect it to be adopted by all phone manufacturers if it delivers better call quality. Other networks will no doubt follow with their own offerings.

The technology, Adaptive Multi Rate Wideband (AMR-WB) has been adopted as an international standard for 3G mobile networks. It is already available in other countries, such as Germany.

It works by compressing the voice signal to maximise the amount of bandwidth on a network. For the network operators no more capacity is needed whilst delivering better quality calls.

Currently it will only work with calls between 3G HD handsets. If calling a landline or non-optimised phone you will not experience the HD call quality.

The first four handsets used by Orange at launch are HD variants of the Nokia 5230, Nokia X6, Nokia E5 and Samsung Omnia Pro. Rumours abound of other HD handsets being in development.

 

The best selling business mobiles across our range of websites has been compiled for August 2010. As usual a strong showing from Nokia with half of the entries. They also have the best seller for August in the shape of the Nokia 1208.

In second place is another Nokia, the 2700. Both of these Nokia phones are sturdy workhorses for business users, offering talk and text without the frills.

The first SmartPhone in the list is the BlackBerry 8520. This has the excellent BlackBerry email service plus a range of other features and packs them all in at a price which business users like. One of the best value for money phones we offer.

Samsung have two entries in the list with both of their heavy duty phones. The Samsung M110 is at 4 and the B2100 at 6. These rubberised phones are shockproof, splashproof and dustproof, making them ideal for all sort of tradesmen including builders, plumbers etc.

Sandwiched in between them is the Nokia 6303, a regular in our Top 10 list offering excellent services in a neat handset, ideal for your average business users.

At 7 is the iPhone. We have lumped together all of the different variants in compiling our figures. Unfortunately the iPhone handsets are still too expensive for mass usage amongst business mobile users. It is also questionable what extra value they add for the average business user over a standard, and less expensive, SmartPhone.

Two more entries for Nokia at 8 and 10 - the Nokia 2730 and 2323. In between at 9 is the BlackBerry 9700.

You can see a full list of Top 10's for the past 15 months in one page - Top 10 Business Mobiles.

 

The latest Ofcom survey into people's media habits is out and there are no surprises. Britons are consuming more media than ever before, particularly by mobile phone and laptop. The young are leading the charge, with 16 to 24 year olds abandoning the traditional TV and radio in favour of new media.

Whilst TV and radio are still the most popular media for the over 55s, they are increasingly more tech-savvy with an increase in broadband connectivity for this age group and a sizeable proportion utilising email every day.

As the general public embrace the advancing technology in larger and larger numbers ask yourself a quick question - is your business making the most of it to get the best out of your internal comunications and to promote your business to the world?

The likely answer for many small businesses is NO. Either due to a lack of knowledge, or the perception of the costs involved, many businesses are sticking with what they've got currently until it finally breaks down.

There are still businesses out there who don't have any online presence. A business website may not be absolutely essential for some sectors but for the vast majority of businesses a website is very important and likely to become more so as people of all ages become more reliant upon the internet.

Christmas is coming soon and there is no doubt that online spending will show another increase over this period. Is your business in a position to get a slice of it?

As a total communications provider we can advise on all manner of connectivity. We can provide everything your business needs to get its message across to an online audience, via computer or smartphone.

We can also help with your own communication needs, advising on the latest mobile handsets ideal for business users, the fastest broadband connections, utilising the latest VoIP phone technology - we offer a myriad of ways to increase your profits.

That's right - increase your profits. Whilst there will usually be an upfront cost with new technology, this cost may be smaller than you think and can be recouped quickly. After that it's all added to your bottom line.

Take your business to the next level with a complete communications review and a total telecoms solution. It's free of charge to see how your business could benefit, just contact us.

Research in Motion (RIM) are the Canadian company best known for their BlackBerry range of smartphone handsets. They were founded in 1994 and launched the first BlackBerry mobile in 1999. Since then the BlackBerry has gone from strength to strength.

Very much a corporate device, BlackBerries are best known for their push email, giving you instant access to emails anywhere in the world on your phone. Whilst many other handset manufacturers have made phones with similar capabilities they have been unable to topple the BlackBerry as the ultimate business phone.

Where BlackBerries come into their own is when multiple phones are used by a company. All of these phones can be synched with the business server using the BlackBerry software that has been fine tuned over the years to deliver maximum business benefit.

A BlackBerry smartphone offers a range of other features as well as the standard phone features. The latest BlackBerry handsets are mini-computers in your hand giving you access to the internet, documents and a range of business related applications.

This range of features does mean that there are circumstances where a BlackBerry user, particularly new users, will need help with setting up their phone and ongoing support to get the most from their new smartphone. This is an inclusive service for all business users taking out BlackBerry contracts with us.

For larger companies we also offer a BlackBerry server installation service. We travel the UK installing BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Servers) and ensuring BlackBerry handsets are set up correctly to provide all of the features required by your business.

We offer a full range of BlackBerry mobile handsets. Currently we are despatching a large number of BlackBerry Curve 8520 mobiles to business users. This particular handset offers all of the BlackBerry email features but is very reasonably priced meaning that companies looking for a volume of handsets can get them without tying themselves to a long or expensive contract.

All other BlackBerry handsets available in the UK can be ordered and we offer a range of tariffs that allow you to have the handset free of charge. Many tariffs also have inclusive data bundles - very important if you are going to be a heavy email user.

With regards to BlackBerry email usage, it is possible to change your settings so that you do not download a full copy of each email, just the headers. This allows you to see who sent the email and what it's about without downloading large amounts of data. If the email's of interest you can download the full version to your phone at the touch of a button.

For a free no obligation quotation for BlackBerry business mobiles just get in touch with us.

 

At Business Mobile World one of our key aims when talking to businesses is to reduce their bills. Saving money on your tariff, and therefore your monthly spend, is obvious and quantifiable. We have some examples of savings we have made for business mobile customers already on our website.

You can see from these examples that savings of hundreds of pounds a month, or several thousand pounds over the course of a year are often achievable. This makes for very happy customers.

Not so obvious are the savings your business could make by improving its communications. Getting new handsets which function in exactly the way you need them to and offer additional services which could be useful will save every one of your employees time. Time is money, so the saying goes.

We find that heavy email users tend to want BlackBerry phones and we can help with both the handsets and the setting up of BlackBerry email, BIS, BES and other email solutions.

These benefits are long term and in addition to savings which can be made on your contract terms. When it comes to taking out a new contract or renewing your current one we will be looking at a balance of both options to deliver the maximum savings to your business.

The business telecoms market is ever changing, particularly with the merger of Orange and T-Mobile in the UK. This means that new tariffs are becoming available and inclusive terms can differ wildly between networks.

That's why utilising the services of a broker to find your business the best deal and save you the most money makes sense. Our knowledge of the latest mobile phone technology can point you in the direction of the best handsets for the way your business uses them.

At the same time we can help with mobile data usage, via a dongle or laptop with integrated sim card, and also advise on the full range of telecoms products we offer including landlines, fixed broadband, tracking and more.

Whilst cost savings are always aimed for when renewing a business mobile contract there are other areas which should be looked at where improvements to your communications can be made.

The pace of technology means that new mobile phone handsets, particularly in the SmartPhone sector, now offer a range of features not available even a couple of years ago. If you are coming to the end of an 18 or 24 month business mobile contract it is likely you will need new handsets.

Could a new SmartPhone benefit your business? With so many apps around it is conceivable that there is one out there that could make your business life away from the office easier. There may even be several which, used in conjunction with each other, could save your business time and money.

Whilst the Apple iPhone is the market leader in terms of available apps other operating systems are catching up. The most notable of these is Google's Android OS which is rapidly increasing its market share. With it being open source Android is going to continue to grow both in popularity and available apps.

It is also worth considering a total business phones solution including landlines and broadband which has the advantage of reducing overheads, streamlining administration and ensuring seamless integration between business telecom products.

Whilst your other services might be bound by contract for the time being, we can transfer them quickly and easily once they fall due for renewal. We can also look at improving your technology for landlines with a VoIP solution, routing your calls via the internet, and free calls to mobiles via an integrated sim card.

Once we have set up your contracts we work with you at all stages to ensure that you always have the latest technology where needed and to continually deliver cost reductions whilst improving communications. Regular reviews ensure that you always benefit from the best business phone deal.

 

Mobile data usage has increased by more than 1,800% in the past two years, fuelled largely by the iPhone and subsequent SmartPhones in conjunction with mobile operators unlimited data tariffs. Whilst the end of the unlimited data tariff is nigh, the thirst for mobile data remains unquenched and the continual rise in its usage will cause the mobile networks to reach capacity without action being taken.

Reducing the data limits on tariffs will certainly have an impact, but will it be enough to solve the problem? That's unlikely and other methods will have to be employed to get traffic reductions that are necessary to avoid the slowing down or crashing of traffic.

One of the options being looked into is cognitive radio, whilst another is the usage of spectrum previously used for other services. As the UK goes digital for its TV services frequencies are left behind which could be used for data traffic. Ofcom has also explored how enabling phones to switch between service providers to find the strongest signal could be a solution in some areas where signal quality is particularly poor. 

The mobile networks are currently opposing plans to dish out extra spectrum as it is not clear how it would be done and whether they may end up losing out financially as a result. However, one thing is clear, there will soon be a genuine need to reduce data traffic on the networks in order to keep it flowing smoothly and provide a good service for the majority of users.

As technology advances and wi-fi becomes standard on all new phones this means of data transfer may be encouraged by the networks. It is also worth mentioning again that wi-fi usage generally does not come out of your tariff meaning that is free of charge to the end user. You don't have to worry about data tariffs or fair usage policies!

 

We have previously commented about the exorbitant costs of using mobile data overseas. Unfortunately the mobile networks have failed to act, or at least failed to go far enough for the EU, who have now imposed a cap on data roaming within the EU.

The cap stands at €50 (just over £40 at today's exchange rate) which should stop the stories of mobile data bills in the thousands of pounds (see our post - businesses counting the cost of volcanic ash for instance). 

In addition mobile networks are obliged to inform their customers when they are approaching the limit and must stop their connection once the limit has been reached. This should stop people running up large bills inadvertently but there are a couple of problems.

Firstly, these rules only apply within the EU, so if you are travelling to a non-EU country or outside of Europe it is likely you will not have a limit. Secondly, your cap can be lifted at your command. So if you do decide you want to remove it make sure you don't go crazy with your downloading abroad!

The cap will also be helpful should your phone be lost or stolen in the EU. Anyone using it will not be able to run up large data bills although they will still be able to make as many calls as they wish. The cost of these calls is now limited to a maximum of 32p per minute following the EU decision.

This price does highlight the need to think in advance if you intend using your mobile phone overseas as there are many packages and bolt-ons that can reduce the amount you pay considerably.

 

The increasing popularity of smartphones, particularly the iPhone, has led to an even greater explosion in the use of mobile data. So much so that the mobile networks  now feel the time is right to take some action.

Up until recently there have been a number of "unlimited" mobile data tariffs (although these were usually subject to a fair usage policy). It looks like their days are numbered as the mobile networks now seek to impose limits, around 500MB or 1GB per month will likely be the norm.

The mobile networks themselves say that their networks are creaking under the strain of the increased traffic hence the need for restrictions. Others say that this is the networks attempt to increase profits as the amount they make from voice and text dwindles.

Whichever is the reason the new limits will need to be adhered to in order to avoid a nasty bill (out of bundle data usage is extremely expensive). Heavy users will be catered for but will have to pay substantially more for their initial tariff.

Most users will find 500MB of data is adequate for internet browsing and email. The problems come if you are downloading music/movies or streaming video/TV. The latest smartphone handsets will offer you better quality music/video services and this may tempt you to download/stream. Just be aware of your mobile data limits for your contract.

We are finding a number of customers with our fixed business broadband have recently started to approach their monthly 50GB limits. For the first time ever we are having to notify people to moderate their usage in order to avoid penalties. And the reason for this? The World Cup!

It looks like a lot of businesses are streaming the World Cup matches which has led to a major increase in internet traffic. If you are streaming matches to your phone beware - a 90 minute match will likely be up to 1GB in data usage (subject to the quality of the transmission).

 

Mobile phone talk and text bundles have been around for a long time now and the competition within the marketplace has driven down prices. At the same time the cost of handsets has been increasing as more and more people abandon basic phones in favour of smartphones.

This leaves the mobile networks profits squeezed, and their answer is to get some of this profit back via their mobile data charges. With smartphones now being the order of the day, and with predictions that mobile phones will at some point in the none too distant future overtake computers in terms of internet volume, charges for mobile data need to be factored in when choosing your mobile phone contract.

This is particularly so as the variance in pricing between networks for mobile data is considerable. The networks even have different pricing structures for different devices - per MB charges for mobile data accessed from a laptop via a dongle are usually considerably cheaper than for access via a mobile phone. Why?

The difference is so great that it does make you wonder about the actual cost price to the networks of providing the service and the margins they are making on mobile phone data charges - they are considerable!

While unlimited data bundles are available for consumer mobile contracts (beware fair usage policies if you take the word "unlimited" too literally!) within the business mobile world limits are more likely to be 500MB, 750MB or 1GB per month. This would usually be sufficient for a business user looking to check their emails and browse the internet, without streaming media or downloading lots of online content.

How much mobile data do you need?

For 500MB of data you could send and receive each day:

• 250 emails
• 35 Word documents
• 25 PowerPoint, Excel or Acrobat attachments

These are approximate figures as individual file sizes can vary considerably, but you can see the average business user is unlikely to exceed this limit. However there are things you can do to reduce your download amount if you are a heavy user. For instance you can just download email headers, rather than the full content of the email, and then access any emails in full if they require your immediate attention whilst you are away from the office.

For help and advice on mobile data charges and the best business mobile contracts get in touch with us by phone or online.

Despatch figures for May are now in and the Top 10 business mobile handsets have been compiled. Only three manufacturers have made it into the list and there are no surprises they are Nokia, RIM (BlackBerry) and Samsung.

The number one business mobile for May 2010 is the Samsung M110. This tough phone is ideal for hard workers being shock, water and dust proof. It returns to the top spot after a three month absence, although it never seems to leave the Top 10.

BlackBerry have three mobiles in the Top 10. The first is the BlackBerry Curve 8520 at number 2. Always popular due to the cost effective nature of the handset this one appeals to savvy business users.

Nokia occupy the next three places with solid talk and text phones being the 6303, 2330 and the 6300. Reliable business phones these have mass appeal for businesses of all types looking for no nonsense mobile phones.

At six is the BlackBerry 9700 (the new BlackBerry Bold), and seven is the Nokia E52, a business mobile smartphone. At eight is the Nokia 2700 and nine is the final BlackBerry in the list, the BlackBerry 8900 (the new BlackBerry curve). Rounding out the Top 10 is the Nokia 2730.

No surprises this month with many of the usual suspects making the list. Expect to see many of them return when next month's figures are announced.

As SmartPhones continue to sell by the bucketload and increase their market share month on month it brings another factor into the equation when buying your business mobiles - the operating system.

There are currently several different Operating Systems for mobile phones on the market including:

• Windows Mobile
• Android
• Symbian
• BlackBerry OS
• iPhone OS
• Maemo
• Bada

The OS making the headlines at the moment is Android, an open source operating system developed by Google. This features on a number of phones from a range of different manufacturers including HTC, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and LG.

Being open source means that anyone is free to develop applications for the Android operating system meaning that the number of apps available is increasing daily. These can be obtained from the Android market which contains many free (and paid for) applications making your business life easier.

One factor in the choice of business SmartPhone is the need to sync it with your existing server for email usage. Many IT workers find it easier to get the Windows Mobile OS up and running with a Windows server leading them to recommend this OS. However all operating systems should be capable of delivering push email for business users.

The range of applications available could be another factor, particularly if you rely upon particular applications which make your life easier when out and about. Also familiarity will play a role - once you get used to a particular OS it can be a pain to transfer to another. Even if they largely work the same and provide the same features their GUIs (Graphical User Interface) can be radically different leading to confusion and a steep learning curve.

For SmartPhone advice get in touch with us and we will guide you through the various options, getting you both the best handset for your usage in combination with the best business mobile tariff.

 

Is your business still stuck in the 20th century? Technology, particularly phone technology, is moving apace and if you haven't changed your hardware and/or software in a few years it is likely you are using obsolete equipment.

For many small businesses this may not manifest itself in noticeable problems. Providing the equipment works and does what you need it to then there is no need to upgrade. However, could your business be making more money by making an investment in new technology?

With the improved technologies has also come price reductions. Competition, particularly in the mobile phone sector, is continually driving prices down. This is particularly true for SmartPhones where they can now be obtained free of charge on even the cheapest of business mobile contracts.

So if your current telecoms equipment is reaching the end of its life span, or starting to show its age, now is the time to look into replacement - you might be surprised how cost effective a total business phone solution is.

Our telecoms healthcheck takes an overview of your current setup, the equipment used and how it is put to use, together with gathering your ideas (and our own) of possible improvements to your communications.

The review covers a number of areas including:

• Mobile phones
• Landline phones
• Telephone numbers and call management
• Broadband (both fixed and mobile)
• Device tracking and employee management solutions (where appropriate)
• IT

Your business can benefit from the latest technology (future proofing for several years), better integration of individual communication products, a more coherent telecoms strategy, and all of this whilst realising cost reductions overall.

Placing all of your communication needs into the hands of a single supplier may seem scary at first but when you see the cost savings available, together with the advantages in billing (single bill for all services) and customer service (one point of contact) you should be convinced that this is the way forward for your business in the 21st century.

It's been a while since we updated the latest business mobile phones available for business users. Here are some of the newest phones and "coming soon" handsets to give you an idea of the mobile technology currently available.

• Sony Ericsson Experia X10

The first obvious striking feature is the 4 inch touchscreen, one of the largest currently found on mobile phones. After that the internal features are just as impressive, including a 1Ghz processor, GPS, an 8mp camera, Android Operating System, up to 16GB storage, Wi-fi, 3G, bluetooth connectivity - it really is an impressive SmartPhone.

• Samsung Galaxy Portal

Also known as the i5700 and Spica. Not as impressively specced as the X10, but not as expensive either. 3.2 inch screen, 3.2mp camera, 800mhz processor, Android OS, GPS - it's still a pretty impressive phone with a relatively low price tag.

• Microsoft Kin One and Kin Two

Microsoft are the latest computer giant to get involved with mobile phones. As mobiles and computers converge, technology firms need to have a foot in both camps to try and ensure they are in the running when the next major development happens.

Due out in America in May, these handsets will likely come to the UK later in the year. Full specs are not yet available but they will both be utilising the latest Windows Phone operating system.

• Nokia N900

A side-slider with a 3.5 inch touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard. 32GB storage, 5MP camera, Nokia's Maemo operating system, 600Mhz processor, GPS - another powerful SmartPhone.

All of these phones are/will be available at Business Mobile World. To get one for your business get in touch with us and we'll get you the best tariff currently available.

 

 

As mobile phones become more powerful the more uses they can be put too. A simple software download can turn them into trackable devices, working in conjunction with GPS and an online real-time interface allowing businesses to monitor employees out in the field.

Mobile phone tracking has come a long way in a very short space of time. No longer reliant upon triangulation between mobile phone masts it now relies upon GPS enabled phones to accurately pinpoint devices within 5 metres at any given time.

It is intelligent enough to recognise when a phone is travelling in a vehicle, indicating direction of travel and speed, or when a phone is being carried by an employee on foot. It can be programmed to notify of arrival, departure and when entering specific areas or zones.

All of the gathered information is stored and can be accessed at any time and compiled into a number of useful reports such as timesheets, expense reports etc. These can be viewed and printed at the touch of a button.

Knowing where everyone is within your organisation will improve your customer service and will help with health and safety compliance where lone workers are involved. Mobile phone tracking can also help with reduced mileage, reduced overtime claims and a range of other money saving benefits for your business.

If you already have a GPS phone you can take a 14 day free tracking trial allowing you to see the web interface in all of its glory and get a hands-on experience of how the tracking software could help your business.

There are no installation costs and you could be surprised how little mobile phone tracking costs. It could quickly pay for itself in savings alone whilst also improving efficiencies helping you retain existing customers and win new customers too.

Even if you don't operate your own fleet, but have employees using their own vehicles on your business, this system provides a grey fleet management solution. Think of it as an employee management system rather than vehicle tracking or mobile phone tracking.

 

We've relaunched two websites this week following a brief break. These are:

• 21c Vehicle Tracking
• 21c Business Mobiles

We had a change of server late last year which led us to re-evaluate all of our websites. It was decided that these two could be put on ice temporarily whilst we concentrated on our main site.

However there have been some developments in the vehicle tracking arena which are exciting and need promoting so the 21c Vehicle Tracking website was chosen as the perfect vehicle to promote the new products.

And whilst we were reviving this site it was easy to put the business mobiles site back online too. This site won't be updated too much in the near future as we concentrate on the vehicle tracking developments.

Vehicle tracking, as a term, is pretty old now. Many businesses, who do not see the need for vehicle tracking, are missing the point. This is about employee management, protection and compliance.

The new breed of device tracking via GPS smartphones can do so much more than just keep track of a vehicle. Because it is not vehicle-fixed and remains with the employee it allows you to keep track of them and ensure that they are safe at all times whilst on your business. It also allows them to alert you if they have a problem with a simple press of a button. You can then see online in real-time where they are and get help to them if needed. This type of solution is ideal for lone workers.

It also allows you to keep track of your "grey fleet", vehicles owned by the employee but used on your business. This is important as your duty of care does not stop because they are in their own car.

Issues relating to privacy, particularly tracking employees outside of working hours, are now easily addressed via the online interface giving the employee complete peace of mind that they are not monitored 24/7.

And the best bit? The price. Businesses are always surprised that such a fully featured system costs so little. For your free quote please contact us or get in touch for a FREE, no obligation 14 day trial to see how this tracking solution might help your business. 

Vehicle tracking has been around for a few years now. Usually a GPS device is fitted to the vehicle and this transmits the position of the vehicle at pre-set intervals so that the movement of the vehicle can be tracked. Using the latest software, vehicle tracking is done online in real-time.

By utilising online tracking this means that you can log in from any device anywhere and see where your vehicles are. However fixed in-vehicle tracking does mean an initial cost for installing the hardware in each vehicle.

Now vehicle tracking can be done by mobile phone. Using a GPS enabled phone to transmit the position, direction and speed of travel, the phone can also show the whereabouts of the employee when out of the vehicle.

Both of these vehicle tracking systems enable savings to be made in your business if you operate a fleet of vehicles, whether small or large. Areas where vehicle tracking can help include:

• Reduced mileage
• Savings on diesel/petrol
• Reduced overtime claims
• Lone worker protection
• Helath and safety compliance
• Improved customer service
• Reduced admin via pre-prepared reports

Device tracking is easy to set up and, if you already have GPS smartphones in your business, is extremely cost efficient. If you don't already have GPS business phones suitable handsets can be supplied free of charge when you next renew your mobile contract. GPS enabled mobile phones can be obtained cheaply and still work well with the tracking software.

Device tracking also offers you extras such as tracking employees using their own vehicles on company business. You have a duty of care to them whilst they are working for you.

The savings made from a vehicle tracking system can quickly pay for the system itself and deliver cost savings on a monthly basis thereafter. There's only one way to find out how much your business could save and that is to get a vehicle tracking quote.

A collection of stories, snippets and interesting information from the world of mobile phones.

• Some of the latest mobile phone apps include one from the AA listing 14,000 places to eat, stay and drink in throughout the UK. This guide will also tell you about local points of interest based upon your location. For those that regularly misplace their phone or have terrible memories where they last put it down a new app called Where's My Phone could be the answer. It allows you to whistle and the phone rings in response, allowing you to locate it.
  
• SmartPhones represent 25% of the mobile phone market yet nearly half of all phone based web traffic comes from them. The average SmartPhone user utilises around 300 minutes per month. Facebook is the most popular website accessed by mobile phone users.
  
• New mobile phones - the Sony Ericsson X10 is due to arrive in April, although it could be earlier. This phone makes use of the Android operating system and features a full touchscreen, 8.1mp camera with auto focus and 16x digital zoom, Timespace (a social networking aggregator), 1GB built-in memory expandable up to 16GB and GPS.
  
• Business Mobiles - companies, particularly corporate users, are spending up to one third of their mobile phone communication bill on personal calls made by their employees. This represents a total spend of £1bn which could possibly be saved by better management and procedures for company mobiles.
  
• The OFT are lobbying for an investigation by UK authorities into the Orange/T-mobile merger. The deal will already be scrutinised by the EU but fears of reduced competition and increased prices for consumers have led to the call from the OFT. A UK investigation could further drag out the merger timescale for several extra months.
  
• Apple - O2 have sold their 2 millionth Apple iPhone in the UK despite losing their exclusivity late last year. The next big thing, the Apple iPad, due for launch later this year, is also on the radar for all of the networks looking to tie up deals with Apple. No news yet of an exact release date or pricing.
  
• O2 continue testing on the 4G mobile network. Speeds of up to 150mbps are potentially available using this technology, however this has not been achieved yet and a full rollout of this is a little way off still.
  
• Nearly 97 billion text messages were sent in the UK in 2009. This represents an hourly rate of 11 million! These figures show a steady increase from 2007 and 2008 despite competition from social networking sites such as twitter and facebook.
  

There can't be many people out there who missed the launch of Apple's latest gadget, the iPad. We now have a tentative date for launch in the UK of March for the wi-fi version and April for the 3G iPad. UK prices are not known but in the US it will sell for $499 (a little over £300).

So what's all the fuss about? Is it really worth getting so excited about?

There's no doubt that the iPad will sell well amongst the Apple devotees and will certainly shift some units to the growing base of iPhone users, but it will be mainly a consumer device and we don't expect much take up amongst business users, although we could be surprised.

There's no news yet on a UK network carrier, although it looks likely that a similar exclusive deal to O2's original iPhone deal might be in the offing with all of the major networks in talks with Apple. A free iPad, heavily subsidised by one of the phone networks on a monthly contract is likely to be appealing in the same way as it is for the iPhone.

The iPad will certainly improve the mobile internet experience over SmartPhones with its large screen, although a lack of flash support will hold it back on many sites. As it doesn't have built in phone capacity it is not going to replace people's SmartPhones, and because of its size it is unlikely to replace netbooks/laptops. However it could find a niche market with users who don't currently own either device and are casual, light users looking for a "fun" device which is easy to use.

Those looking for serious business tools are still more likely to stick with their trusty laptops, at least for the time being, although as we have seen with the iPhone the iPad will likely spawn several similar products from other manufacturers and will drive laptop/netbook development in new directions. Expect to see plenty more tablet PCs coming out soon.

 

According to a recent study only 24% of mobile phone users in the UK access the internet via their handset. There are several reasons cited for this low figure:

• Actual cost of data when known
• Unknown costs related to downloads and fear of a big bill
• Difficulty in viewing websites on small screens
• Slow download speeds and unwieldy navigation

Many of these problems can be overcome, particularly if you are looking for a new handset. If the internet is going to be a factor in your choice of mobile phone you will likely want as big a screen as possible. This means a touchscreen or slidephone are the best options.

A QWERTY keyboard enables you to email better and also to type long URLs into your browser getting to the website you need faster. A 3G enabled phone is a must and look out for whether it supports standard web programming such as java and flash. Wi-fi phones keep your costs down if you have a wireless access point.

A smartphone enables you to download different web browsers and applications to suit your taste and preference.

When looking at tariffs there are some different options for data usage. These include:

• Pay as you go for amount downloaded
• Include a data usage amount within your tariff (eg. 500MB)
• Pay per day

Which one works out best for you depends upon how often you are likely to access the internet/email. For instance if the daily access charge is 30p and you are likely to use it half a dozen times per month it works out better to pay daily than paying £5 for inclusive data within your tariff.

Beware the high costs of downloading data on a pay as you go basis. It is easy to run up a sizeable bill if you surf the internet without a special data plan of some sort. Also note that your data plan applies only in the UK. When overseas the cost of data usage is usually enormous.

Technology moves on apace and no area is moving faster than mobile phones. With the continuing rise in sales of SmartPhones, including GPS and always-on connectivity, the possibility to provide location-based services combined with mobile phone payment will be here soon.

This will allow you to receive information, offers and discounts on products and services based on your location. You might be walking along the high street nearing a large retail store and suddenly your phone beeps and a discount voucher appears on your screen. You visit the retailer, swipe your voucher to receive your discount, and swipe again to pay for your goods.

This will undoubtedly make life easier, particularly in paying for small items when you don't have any cash in your pocket. However the temptation to overspend will definitely be there for some. Also a lot of small impulse purchases can soon add up to a tidy sum at the end of the month.

It is also be possible to use your phone as a shopping assistant, taking a photo of an item in a shop and using an app to find info about it and get the best price. Apps could also be involved in money transfer between phones, so you could see car boot sales where the goods are bought by a shake of a couple of mobile phones and the money transferred from buyer to seller.

The security of the mobile payments will need to be excellent and combined with transaction limits to limit spending if people are going to adopt this technology. But any minor objections from people are likely to be overcome and many of the iPhone generation are going to want to get involved with this straight away.

They are the same people who will be using the new features on social networking sites which will enable you to see where your friends are and broadcast your location to your friends to meet up. The issue of privacy here is paramount but not insurmountable. There may be plenty of people who you don't want to know where you are!

Business applications for location tracking are already in use by many businesses who use device tracking systems to keep track of vehicles and employees during working hours. This enables the business to make savings and efficiencies and the systems can pay for themselves within a relatively short space of time.

The use of wi-fi hotspots is set to treble within 2 years, fuelled mainly by the popularity of the Apple iPhone.

Wi-fi enabled mobile phones can access the internet and email via hotspots, often free of charge. They can also access these services in your home if you have a wireless router. The advantage of this is that wi-fi access falls outside of a standard contract and does not incur data charges.

However, not all mobiles have wi-fi capability and you need to check before you buy. Some cheap phones do have it yet some more expensive phones don't. It is likely that the vast majority of new phones will feature wi-fi.

The free public wireless network in Swindon, allowing all of the towns inhabitants free wi-fi access, is due to be completed in April. Should this prove successful it is likely other towns will follow suit. Access to Swindon residents will be time-limited each day with a charge for use beyond their initial limit. Visitors to the town will also be charged.

A solid choice if you are looking for a wi-fi mobile phone with internet and email is the BlackBerry Curve 8520 (pictured right). Ths features a full QWERTY keyboard which is useful for email and also for entering URLs for web browsing.

It doesn't cost a packet either. Contracts start at £25 per month with 500 mobile minutes, unlimited landlines, 250 texts and 500 MB of data. This includes a free handset (this deal is for business mobiles users).

Other features include:

• 2.64 inch screen
• full QWERTY keyboard
• touch-sensitive optical trackpad
• memory expandable up to 32GB
• Bluetooth
• 2MP camera
• BlackBerry OS (512mhz processor)
• BlackBerry's legendary mobile email
• Organizer
• MP3/MP4 player.

We offer a full range of wi-fi mobile phones for business users. Get in touch to find out more and for a free quotation.

This may be the last post before the 25th so a Happy Christmas to all of our customers, new and old, and a prosperous New Year.

Talking of New Year, the date for Vodafone's iPhone launch is now known. It will be on the 14th January 2010. Pre-orders are now being taken direct via their website although there don't appear to be any tariff details as yet.

Don't expect to see any startlingly different tariffs from either Orange or O2. It is likely that they will follow the other two networks both in terms of pricing and length of contract.

For the cheapest iPhone deals the best option could be Tesco Mobile who are offering 12 month contracts. It does mean that you have to contribute towards the cost of the phone initially but you are better off in the long run in terms of total cost. It also allows you to upgrade after 12 months which could be useful as it is likely the next generation iPhone or a variant will be released by then.

These are the deals for individual customers. For iPhone business mobile contracts get in touch with us for your tailored quotation. We have a wide range of business mobile tariffs from all of the major networks and can assist with a single iPhone or multiple iPhones for all of your employees.

The New Year is an ideal time for businesses to take a look at all of their outgoings. Remember we can help with a wide range of telecoms providing your business with an integrated solution and saving you money in the process. Our quotes are free and without obligation.

After a few days without posting we are going to catch up on some of the latest news from the world of mobile phones.

Aino and Satio back in business?

Sony Ericsson have been suffering some software problems on two of their latest handsets, so much so that they were withdrawn from sale by some retailers. The software update fixing all of these issues is now available for current users of these phones.

Too early to tell if this will help with sales in the run up to Christmas which must have been severely affected by the much publicised problems. Would you buy a handset with known problems when there is so much choice out there and plenty of reliable and proven phones?

Driving whilst using mobile on the increase?

It's hard to believe that people still haven't got the message. Apparently mobile phone use whilst driving has doubled in the last two years according to a recent study. This is despite the increased fines and penalties and the easy availability of hands-free kits such as bluetooth headsets.

If you know someone who is regularly driving whilst using a mobile, do them a favour and wrap them up a hands-free device for Christmas. They're cheap and easy to find and most of them work very well.

Can prolonged use of mobile phones give you brain cancer?

Whilst it is still very early days, it would appear that the incidence of brain tumours has not increased (in Scandinavia at least where the report comes from) since the 1990s when prolonged usage of mobile phones first started.  

It's always better to be cautious and limit use of mobiles where possible, particularly for children, but it would appear that the risks are relatively small for the time being. Longer studies need to take place and manufacturers need to continue to reduce radiation from their handsets where possible.

Smartphones continue to dominate people's wishlists

With SmartPhones getting smarter and cheaper all the time it is very likely many will be making the switch in the run up to Christmas and getting an operating system on their phone, similar to that on their computer. This allows the easy download of applications, synching with your desktop or laptop and using software that is already second nature.

In the same way that computing power has increased exponentially in recent years SmartPhone technology is likely to do the same. For those that haven't dipped their toes into the water a budget SmartPhone can be free of charge on a monthly contract costing a few pounds. This will get you used to how they work, ready for the jump to a more powerful model in the future as the technology evolves.

If you are due your upgrade in the coming months get in touch to see how we could help you take your first step with a new SmartPhone for both business users and individual consumers.

Orange have reported that they sold more than 30,000 iphones on their first day of offering the handset to their customers. There is no stopping the momentum behind the iPhone, particularly now that Tesco Mobile have announced they will be selling it online and in their mobile shops.

Tesco currently have around 100 mobile shops within their stores, a number which is set to grow to 200 during 2010. No tariffs have been announced but they claim they will be offering a little "Tesco value" to their customers.

Does this herald the start of a price war? Orange getting the iPhone certainly didn't, with tariffs set almost exactly the same as O2. Vodafone come into the market in 2010 and this extra competition may start the prices heading ownwards.

However, how much room for manoeuvre is there in the price? If you are paying £30 per month over 24 months your total outlay is only £720. With an iPhone GS costing in the region of £500 (probably a bit less to the major networks) there isn't much of a profit margin.

Whilst we can supply the iPhone to our business customers, we find that other handsets from Nokia and RIM (BlackBerry) are much more popular. It did pop into our Top 10 business mobile handset chart for August 2009 but hasn't been seen since.

As a business phone it doesn't offer any extra features above many considerably cheaper handsets. Businessmen with their heads screwed on understand value and understand that every extra penny spent on their mobiles is a penny off their profits.

So if you are looking for a business mobile phone and are considering the iPhone get in touch with us for some free advice and some cheaper (and better) alternative handsets that will save your business money month after month.

 

Following on from our recent blog post, Mobile Phone Form Factors, the differential in exterior design is becoming less important than the internal operating system and software for customers who know their mobiles.

There are still consumers who just want the latest "in" gadget, or a phone because it "looks pretty", but more and more people understand how mobiles work now that they are becoming more like computers. This is particularly so for companies looking for business mobiles.

The latest SmartPhones can run operating systems that are already familiar to anyone who has had a computer for the last few years. So if you are a fan of Windows on your PC it makes sense to hunt down a Windows Mobile device which will provide you with an OS that you can quickly understand and are broadly familiar with.

Using similar operating systems on all of your devices will also make it easier to integrate them and to transfer documents and files between them.

With so many manufacturers making similar looking devices, and with physical limitations to just how different mobiles can be, plus only a handful of different operating systems out there, how are they going to make their handsets stand out?

Firstly they can add to the OS. Open Source operating systems such as Google's Android can be customised by the manufacturer's development teams. So whilst you would broadly expect to be getting a similar experience with all Android based handsets, there could actually be quite a bit of difference with interfaces and usability dependent on your handset choice.

The next step could also be niche handsets. Rather than trying to be all things to all men new handsets could appeal to different sectors. For instance in Korea they have released a "golf" phone with maps of 280 golf courses built in and a host of other features to appeal particularly to the golf market. This is definitely a way to differentiate handsets based on the users lifestyle.

When comparing handsets the first thing to look for is if it has an operating system (ie. it's a SmartPhone) or not. If you only want to make calls and texts then you don't need an OS and should go for a basic model, there's no point paying for features you don't need.

Next look for which OS it's running. You are likely to come across the following systems:

• Symbian
• Android
• Windows Mobile
• BlackBerry
• iPhone
• Palm Web OS

You may not have a preference initially, but if there is specific software (apps) that you want your phone to run you will need to make sure the Operating System can handle it and do some research to make sure it works OK. Online reviews and blogs from real users will usually tell you how well it works!

If you have family/friends/acquaintances who are already using a phone with your chosen OS see if they will let you give it a try to see how well you get on with it. All UIs (User Interfaces) calim to be intuitive yet work in different ways. What is intuitive to me may not feel intuitive to you.

For company mobile users give us a call for a chat about the different handsets and operating systems. We can supply business users with a single handset or multiple handsets as required.

Sales of SmartPhones continue to soar and are predicted to exceed those of PCs by 2012. The average SmartPhone is now so packed full of features that they could possibly replace a number of devices in the fullness of time.

When you invest in a SmartPhone you are likely getting a

• camera
• media player (MP3/4/Radio)
• computer
• satnav
• TV
• communication device (phone/sms/mms/email)

All of these features are rolled into one device that you can carry around and, as processing power and memory increase, the potential for replacing all of your other gadgets with a single SmartPhone are being realised.

As more manufacturers enter the SmartPhone market prices are coming down and obtaining a free SmartPhone can now be done with even the most basic of business mobile contracts. For consumers, SmartPhones can be obtained free on contracts as low as £18 per month including data usage.

Research In Motion (RIM), the BlackBerry device manufacturers, now have units available on £25 per month contracts. These include minutes, texts AND data, giving you everything you need to use all of the phone features.

If you do intend using the email and internet features of your SmartPhone make sure you have data usage included within your package as charges per MB out of bundle can be very steep and it doesn't take much browsing to run up a big bill.

Alternatively you can use a Wi-fi enabled phone utilising your home or office wireless network to download data. This should not incur any charges from your network.

If you are looking for a free iPhone you are going to have to pay a fair bit more, particularly if you want the latest model. However for a business user there are many handsets available free that offer better features without the need for an expensive tariff.

Researching handset models is easy, we use the GSM Arena website which details of all of the handsets released throughout the world. You can see photos, reviews, full specs and user comments.

When doing your research on this site make sure the model is released in the UK as some phones are US or Far East only. Once you have a model in mind give us a call or let us know the features you require and your budget and we'll let you know the best combination of handset and tariff giving you a free mobile SmartPhone.

 

With the release of the BlackBerry 9520 (aka Storm 2) Research In Motion (RIM), the BlackBerry manufacturer, are focusing on a competitor to the iPhone with an all-round aptitude for both business and leisure uses.

 

For the dedicated business mobile user which BlackBerry should you choose?

 

If you are looking for a BlackBerry device it is very likely that email is on your mind. From an email point of view can you manage without a full QWERTY keyboard? Most BlackBerry phones now provide this as standard either via a touchscreen interface or regular buttons. Older models can have half-QWERTY keypads but if you are going to be emailing regularly these are probably best avoided.

 

Remember that data usage out of bundle is extremely expensive so a BlackBerry Internet Solution (BIS) or BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) need to be included within your package. These will be charged extra and start at around £10 per month for 500MB of data for BIS.

 

As BlackBerry phones tend to be aimed squarely at business users some features, such as a camera, tend to be rather basic. A standard 2.0 or 3.2 MP camera is all that you are likely to get. Compare that to the latest 12MP camera phones now available.

 

If you want to access the internet via your own router, at home or in the office, then you will need Wi-Fi connectivity. This is becoming standard on newly released models such as the BlackBerry Bold 9700. Most also include GPS as standard.

 

In fact the latest models are remarkably similar in features, it is up to you whether you prefer the look and feel of the touchscreen BlackBerry Storm 2 or the more standard BlackBerry Bold 9700. You are unlikely to be disappointed with either model.

 

We can supply your business with either handset, or a choice of other BlackBerry mobiles, and these can be free of charge subject to the tariff you choose.

Many people are now more likely to forget their wallet/cards/cash than their mobile phone when they leave the house. So the ability to pay for small items of shopping or travel fares via your mobile phone is going to appeal.

Already available in the Far East, trials continue in the UK to get the mobile wallet up and running and accepted by retailers. With many supermarkets already offering self-checkout, the ability to scan your phone to pay for the goods would seem reasonably straightforward.

No doubt there are a number of technical and payment problems to iron out, but the day you can start paying with your mobile is coming soon.

There are also many shopping related apps coming onto the market. Retailers are realising that the mobile is an ideal device to help them market themselves and sell more product.

For instance Amazon have released an app that allows you to place orders and keep track of them, in the same way as you would use their website. They also offer a special feature whereby if you see an item you like when you are out and about you can take a photo of it and upload it to their site and if it can be matched with a product they sell you can find out all about it and then order it from your phone (or just keep it in your visual shopping list).

Dominos Pizza have also launched an app to enable you to track your pizza delivery. It lets you know when the pizza is in the oven, when it is ready for collection or on the way to being delivered.

These apps are examples of how big business is embracing new technology and using it to keep in touch with customers. Small business users can also take advantage of mobile technology. Not necessarily by the use of apps, but by sms marketing which is relatively low cost and provides instant results.

If you can think of a way that using mobile phones could help your business from a marketing or sales perspective please contact us and let us show you how cost effective mobile phone marketing could be.

As a small business it can often be difficult to compete with much larger businesses on a level playing field. They can buy all of the technology they need, regardless of cost, and have deep pockets to pay for marketing their products and services.

However, with even the most advanced mobile phones available from only £35 per month, your small business can be equipped with the latest in SmartPhone technology without breaking the bank.

Armed with the latest SmartPhone you can download apps, often for free, that will make your phone perform exactly how you need it to. You can also find a lot of free software for your computer that emulates the performance of very expensive software and systems that can keep you competitive.

Being a small business means that you can also respond more quickly to new technology, getting the latest gadgets to help your business as soon as they are available.

What is the ideal mobile phone for small business users?

That depends on how you are going to use it and what you need it to do. With a bit of research you can find a cheaper alternative to the headline-grabbing phones that will do exactly the job you need.

Before plunging headlong into buying your new phone think about exactly which features you NEED (not want) for your business. All phones are going to give you similar performance for voice and texts, but the difference in browsing and email between handsets can be large. QWERTY keyboards and larger screens are the order of the day if you need email and internet usage on a daily basis.

If you need your phone to be durable, either because you work in a tough environment or because you are just clumsy, then a rubberized phone would be a good buy. They tend to be cheap and cheerful with few features but you will know you made a good decision in buying one the first time you drop it heavily onto a concrete path and it bounces back still working.

They may not be the most glamorous of phones but they could save you a lot of money in replacing your mobile time and time again. Remember, getting a replacement phone is likely to cost your business at least £100, and up to £500 for the most advanced phone, each and every time one is broken.

The array of mobile phones available to small business users can be daunting and research can be time consuming. If you prefer to talk to an expert in the field of business mobiles then pick up the phone and call us. We will happily talk you through all of the latest phones and features that could help your small business.

 

With mobile phones becoming more like computers, offering storage for documents, personal and work data, the need to keep this data safe for business mobile users is paramount.

Most phones offer a PIN code security system. This locks all of the data but leaves the phone enabled to make emergency calls. The pin code is usually 4-8 digits. In common with your bank pin code you should make it memorable, not make it easily guessable and should not write it down and keep it with the phone!

If for any reason you enter an incorrect pin code three consecutive times the phone and/or sim card will be locked and you will be unable to use the phone or access its data. To reactivate the phone you need to know the PUC code (Pin Unlock Code). This is also known as the PUK code (Pin Unlock Key).

Should you enter the pin code wrongly 10 times in succession you will permanently lock your phone and need a new sim card, for which the network will charge you.

For O2 users the PUK code can be obtained from their website. Find an O2 PUK code. For all other networks you will have to get in touch with their customer service departments by phone (not easy if you only have your mobile with you and you've just locked it!).

As well as PIN protection SmartPhone users can download software apps that offer password protected storage facilities for all of their contacts and data. There are also apps for the safe and secure back-up of mobile phone data in the event of a lost/stolen/damaged phone.

By using a cloud storage facility and keeping your data safely online, it can be retrieved easily and downloaded to your new phone in the event of any problems.

New handsets - BlackBerry Storm 2 is coming (26/10). This touchscreen smartphone is another attempt by RIM (Research In Motion) to compete with the iPhone. In a similar vein the much vaunted Palm Pre has now been released. "The first phone on the new Palm webOS™ platform allows you to keep multiple applications open at the same time so you can flow effortlessly between the people and events that make up your life" - well that's what it says in the blurb anyway.

Sony Ericsson have released the Satio with a staggering 12mp camera. It's not just a camera phone though as it also incorporates Sony's Walkman music features making it a great all-round entertainment phone.

None of these phones are going to be cheap with long-term contracts starting from around £35 per month if you want one free.

Spectrum Auction - The Government has cleared the way for the 5 major UK mobile phone networks to bid for the airwaves best suited for mobile broadband. This will not only help dedicated mobile broadband access (eg. via dongle) but should also improve data connections for SmartPhones.

Currently around 80% of the population have access to the 3G network, mainly in urban areas. For business users on the road increased coverage will mean less chance of signals "dropping out" or being stranded with no signal at all.

Emergency Calls - should you get in trouble up a mountain, or indeed anywhere where coverage on your own network is not so good, calls to 999 or 112 will now use the best coverage available from all 5 networks making it easier to get in touch with rescue services.

iPhone on all 5 networks - It won't be long now before the Apple iPhone is available on all 5 major UK networks. T-mobile and Three have not announced deals with Apple but are believed to be sourcing sim free iPhones from Europe to keep hold of their best customers. Expect monthly contract prices to fall by around £5 once all of the networks are involved.

 

 

Nokia are releasing a Windows 7 Netbook. Initially available in the US, but shortly available in Europe, this netbook release shows that mobile device convergence is continuing apace.

With Apple, a traditional computer company, gobbling up its mobile phone market share with the iPhone, Nokia are switching the tables with their new hi-spec netbook. Bridging the gap between the SmartPhone, which offers a limited browsing experience, and the full-blown laptop which is so much larger to carry around, more netbooks are being released and sold daily.

Convergence is the new watchword in the telecoms marketplace. There is no sign to the end of device convergence and increasingly the line between phone and computer is becoming blurred.

To keep your business ahead of the curve you need to be thinking about how you can best use the new technology and how your fixed and mobile devices connect with each other. The days of having mobiles with one company, landlines with another, computers supplied by someone else are disappearing fast for companies that want to embrace new technology.

Even the big networks are getting in on the act. Vodafone have, in recent weeks, announced a rollout of landline services for SMEs plus a deal to offer online cloud storage to its existing business and consumer customers. They realise that convergence is inevitable and offering a fully-integrated telecoms solution will help preserve their market share in the future.

At Business Mobile World we can tell you how your business can best take advantage of new technologies to ensure that your communications keep up-to-date. This may be across continents, work sites, or just across the next desk.

Shopping around for all the seperate parts of your business telecoms no longer makes any sense - it could cost you a lot more in the long run. An integrated telecoms solution will save your business money, in terms of reduced tariffs for packaged deals, enhanced problem resolution and better customer service.

Technology is moving at such a pace that it is difficult to keep up, never mind stay one step ahead. Things that were once only thought of in sci-fi movies are now being developed and brought to life.

For instance, Tom Cruise's character in Minority Report wandered the streets with targeted ads appearing as he moved through the cityscape. This is now being developed, and with SmartPhone technology and GPS it is possible that this will be happening very, very soon.

Businesses that embrace new technology and can see how this can help them improve their interaction with new and existing customers will be the winners going forward into the next decade.

Of course all of the technological infrastructure will need building and maintaining, not to mention updating as new developments and breakthroughs are made.

The news today that Rentokil Initial plc have signed a landmark deal with Google to improve the communications of its 78,000 employees across 50 countries shows that forward thinking companies are already looking to new technology to integrate their systems and keep ahead of the competition.

You don't need to be the size of Rentokil Initial to get your business involved. We can help SMEs with a range of new communications technology making their business life easier and reducing costs at the same time.

To find out how we could help you get in touch with us for a free communications review.

Some of the new releases and mobiles that are coming soon.

First up is the Sony Ericsson Naite (GreenHeart). A candy bar phone with 2mp camera and relatively basic features for a phone these days. However its main selling point is its green credentials.

It is made from eco friendly materials, has an e-manual on the phone instead of a paper manual, and contains Ecomate, a CO2 calculator pre-installed on the phone. It also has a low power consumption charger and reduced packaging.

At the other end of the spectrum is the Samsung B7620 Giorgio Armani. A SmartPhone running windows mobile with a 5mp camera plus most of the features you would expect from a just-released SmartPhone in 2009. It is Armani-badged and contains Giorgio Armani fashion applications, whatever they might be!

There is no news on a UK release at present, so don't get too excited, especially as it would cost a considerable amount to get your hands on one!

Breaking the mould is the newly released Nokia 6350. It's a clam-shell design that most of us would be familiar with from a few years ago before slide and touchscreen became all the rage. Again, this one is not available in the UK but it is interesting to see a manufacturer going back to this old design style.

It could herald a few more calm-shell type phones coming onto the market as there are customers who swear by their old folding phones.

For more details of the latest phones and business mobile news please contact us for a quick chat or to find out how much your business could save with a new deal.

Did you know...

...that almost 70% of the worldwide population now have some form of mobile phone subscription?

...that by the end of this year mobile broadband will have overtaken fixed line broadband?

The modern business needs to embrace this trend and ensure that it remains in touch with the latest technology and is able to move quickly with industry developments.

As the distinction between phones and computers becomes more blurred, with each device able to do the other's job, business users will need to make a decision - are you staying fixed or are you getting mobile?

Make the SMART decision, get a SmartPhone and release your business from the fixed telephony shackles. Better still, get an integrated solution from Business Mobile World involving your mobiles, landlines, broadband and IT.

Bundling them all together not only saves your business money but it improves the overall communications of your company by ensuring that all of your devices interact with each other seamlessly.

When there's a problem (modern technology doesn't always work correctly ALL of the time!) it's just one phone call to speak with a human being, not a robot, and the solution is at hand.

Want to know more? Let us show you how it all works. We can quote you for any or all of our many telecoms services, just get in touch.

Microsoft are going all out to increase their share of the SmartPhone market with their new operating system Windows Mobile 6.5. It's been a while coming and in the meantime Google's Android and Apple's iPhone have gained a chunk of Microsoft's market.

Up to 30 phones running the new OS should be launched by the end of the year, and these should demonstrate the improvements that have been made to their best effect. Ease of use and better browsing are two key elements of 6.5, plus their MyPhone service enabling users to remotely back-up their data, track lost/stolen phones and lock them against unauthorised access.

Microsoft's new OS should look and feel familiar for all of us using Windows based computer systems. Already a solid choice for business SmartPhones, the new Windows Mobile OS should appeal more to consumers, backed up by a new app store, Marketplace, with around 250 apps available at launch.

Expect some great deals in the run up to Christmas as networks and handset manufacturers battle to corner as much of the SmartPhone market as possible. Sales of SmartPhones this year are expected to be up over 20% on 2008 and continue to climb into 2010.

Sales of "cheap and cheerful" phones are also set to remain steady with the middle-market phones the big losers.

 

Although the iPhone has only been around for a couple of years (it seems like longer) it has established itself, in its various guises, as the top selling handset in the UK and US.

This is mainly due to individual customers impressed by the TV ads, and it is undoubtedly a very good entertainment phone. But can it be used for business?

It made it into our Top 10 business mobile phones at number 6 in August but has disappeared in September's chart. More "sensible" phones occupy the top 10 positions, providing solid voice and data options at a much more reasonable price.

However there are many business users who swear by their iPhones. They find the intuitive nature of the operating system and touchscreen much easier to use than other SmartPhones. Plus there is a range of apps now available for business users, up to 75,000 in total (business and leisure) via the App Store.

The large screen and excellent built-in web browser make it particularly useful in businesses where "proper" internet access is needed. Plus the native email client is certainly up to the job of handling business email.

The battery however is a letdown. Plus the processor, although reasonably powerful, does not compare to recently released phones and is unable to run simultaneous applications.

If an iPhone is the apple of your eye then we certainly won't put you off buying it (providing you can afford it!) but before you jump in give some thought to the many other business mobile phones available which may offer you exactly what you need at a fraction of the price.

The choice of SmartPhone for your business is getting larger day-by-day. Each phone offers slightly different features but behind the glossy screens the operating system will largely determine which is best for your business.

The most popular operating systems for business mobile phones are:

• Symbian - used to power the majority of Nokia SmartPhones
• Windows Mobile - found across a variety of phones from different manufacturers
• Android - Google's linux-based open source operating system is slowly being adopted by more manufacturers 
• BlackBerry - the BlackBerry OS from RIM (Research In Motion) powers their range of BlackBerry mobile phones
• iPhone OS - used solely for the different versions of the Apple iPhone

So which one should you choose?

The iPhone OS only applies to the iPhone and is aimed more at the individual consumer with its range of music and games although it also has push-email facilities.

The BlackBerry OS does without many of these frills (although more are included with each new release) in favour of providing a solid business phone, particularly for email.

Android powered devices are harder to find and the operating system is in its infancy so is evolving fast with each new update. Many people have complained of "teething problems".

The Symbian S60 OS restricts you to a Nokia device, but is an excellent choice if Nokia is your favourite manufacturer as there are a large number of applications available to download.

Finally there is Windows Mobile. A solid all-rounder which is available on a number of handsets from a range of manufacturers. Its user interface is a little tired now by comparison with others but this should be addressed when version 7 of the operating system is released.

 

We all live in a fast-paced business world, particularly those of us based in the world of mobile phones and telecoms.

Take mobiles for instance; processing power doubles every 18 months, storage capacity increases, and faster download speeds and higher bandwidth are available.

In the next couple of years the standard mobile phone will have the processing power of your average PC of today. The possibilities are nearly limitless.

With so many SmartPhones being sold, more and more customers have powerful operating-system based devices in their pockets. New apps are being released daily offering new services to both consumers and business mobile users.

When planning your next business mobile contract you not only need to think about what you need today but what is going to help your business in the future.

How are new mobile devices and the range of services they offer going to help your staff be more productive and, where they are used in a customer facing situation, improve your customer service?

For instance, I recently had a few estate agents around my house to value my property. Several of them brought around paper print-outs of similar properties in the area to show me. Not very interesting.

The one that stood out from the crowd whipped out his iPhone and connected directly to the Right Move website. He scrolled through similar properties and from there could click on any details of interest, show me all of the photos, provide an interactive service which offered so much more than a flat piece of paper. He got my business.

Think about how technology could improve your presentations to customers and prospects. Utilising the features of a modern SmartPhone will save you time, money and, ultimately, increase your profits.

 

If you are looking for your first business mobile, or an upgrade to your existing business mobiles(s), it pays to do some research to make sure your new phone is going to do everything you want it to.

First you need to make a list of the features it must have. Then you can list features you might like if they were within your budget, and finally features you are not interested in.

We recommend contacting us in the first instance with your list from which we can compile all of the available handsets offering the features you need.

Some of the things to think about include:

• Screen size and type - you need a bigger screen for internet usage and you could consider a touchscreen method of entry.
• Memory size - do you need to store music/photos/documents - if so choose a phone with large expandable memory.
• Camera - Do you need a camera in the course of your business? Resolutions up to 12mp are now available.
• Email - receive emails on your handset. Also think about input type (QWERTY, half QWERTY, touchscreen keyboard)
• Connectivity - bluetooth, Wi-fi, 3G
• GPS - do you need full satnav or just a basic mapping program.
• Business tools - document viewer, organizer
• Operating system - do you need computer-like processing power and access to apps to help your business

This is not an exhaustive list. There may be other features you need or want - just let us know and we will find you the right business mobile handset for your usage.

 

 

The Apple iPhone has been an incredible success amongst individual consumers. For business mobile users the pull is not so great. The need for the "gadget of the moment" is less and functionality is far more important than style.

Most of the iPhone features can be performed just as well, if not better, by other phones on the market. Apple are also going to have trouble retaining their current advantage in the future as all of the major manufacturers are "out to get them" with every new SmartPhone release offering something to make it an "iPhone killer".

Not only that, but by signing exclusively with O2 they also have the other networks gunning for them. Vodafone, whilst being the largest network globally, are only second in the UK (and shortly to be third with the merger of Orange and O2).

They need something to entice the iPhone buyers onto their network. Or alternatively the many people who would like an iPhone but just cannot afford the hefty monthly bills or handset price!

Their answer, at least in the short term, is Vodafone 360. This service aims to pull together all of the social networking people do now, both on mobile phones and computers. A common address book will span email contacts, Facebook and Twitter friends and other online communities.

There will also be a store for Vodafone apps for music, games and mapping plus new content drawn from a range of developers. New phones will be launched to take advantage of this new service and to show it off to its full potential. Samsung are rumoured to be manufacturing two of the new handsets.

The first we are likely to see of Vodafone 360 is in the run up to Christmas. Watch this space.

As well as business mobile phones and landline telephony we can also provide your business with tracking solutions.

We have a dedicated tracking website at 21c Vehicle Tracking which provides more information.

Why does your business need tracking? If you operate vehicles as part of your business, for delivery, sales reps, even your own employees using their vehicles on company business, you have health and safety legislation to comply with.

The use of tracking can also yield cost savings on fuel, mileage, overtime claims, speeding fines, improved customer service, reporting and administration, and the system could pay for itself in a relatively short time frame.

Vehicle Tracking

Tracking hardware is fixed in the vehicle and uses GPS to report on the vehicle position, direction and speed which can be seen online in real time.

Device Tracking

No hardware is required, instead software is downloaded onto compatible GPS SmartPhones (eg. BlackBerry phones). When in a vehicle the phone will provide the same information as above, but you will also be able to track employees whilst out of the vehicle too.

Depending on your type of business and how you will be using the information will determine which system suits you best, however we can demo both systems for you so you can see how they work and how your business could benefit.

Visit our dedicated tracking website at 21c Vehicle Tracking to find out more and to arrange for a free quote.

 

Modern mobile phones are prone to all of the failures of most types of electronic equipment. Add to this the bangs, drops and scrapes they can often endure and it is little wonder we are telephoned regularly about repairing mobile phones.

The latest SmartPhones are also crammed with software that can cause problems in the same way as a regular computer.

If the phone is less than 2 years old and the damage has not been caused by yourself you will likely be able to get a warranty repair. This usually means sending the phone back to the manufacturers, the manufacturers nominated repairers, or taking it in yourself if you are local.

The repair itself is free although you may have to pay to post it to them.

For older phones, or where the damage is caused by yourself - for instance dropping it in a bucket of water (or toilet bowl!) - you will have to get the phone repaired elsewhere.

We have a number of repairers where we send our broken handsets. However there is a cost involved and it is often more expensive to repair than to buy a new handset.

Whilst mobile phone insurance is available, it is not cheap, particularly for small business users who have more than one phone.

Also, whilst your handset is away being repaired, you will have to make your own arrangements with regards to a replacement phone. It makes sense to keep a cheap unlocked phone spare to use in the event of a repair being needed.

If you have a question about mobile phone repair please contact us for a quick chat.

 

A couple of the latest releases and upcoming phones are previewed below.

Nokia N900

Not due until October 2009 (probably) this phone features a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 3.5 inch touchscreen, 5MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics, 600Mhz processor, 32GB storage, GPS - basically everything you can put into a phone these days! So don't expect it to come cheap.

It could be seen by many as a rival to the iPhone and is very much being aimed at the "must-have" gadget market. Our experience is that these top of the range all-singing all-dancing handsets prove very popular, but most people, particularly small business users, are unlikely to use all of the features and would be better off with lower spec phones that do what they need on cheaper tariffs.

However, if you really want one we can happily supply you with one (once it is available in the UK) and will quote you a variety of tariffs to suit your usage.

LG GW520 (aka LG Calisto)

This is a cross between an LGKP500/501 (LG Cookie) and the LG KS360. Featuring the Cookie touchscreen but with the addition of the 360 slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

It comes with a 2.8 inch touchscreen, 3.12mp camera, up to 16GB storage and a variety of colours! Not as well featured as the N900 but a whole lot cheaper and available on our lowest business mobile tariffs.

Other new phones coming out later this year include the HTC Touch 2, Nokia X3, LG GM750 and the Nokia N97 Mini.

Vodafone's 3 months free line rental on 24 month Your Plan for Small Business tariffs is now extended until September 30  2009!* 

The Your Plan for Small Business tariff offers a number of benefits for small business mobile users:

• Unlimited calls to landlines (01, 02 and 03)
• Inclusive 500MB BIS or WME (Instant personal emails and internet usage)
• 250 inclusive Text Messages

Inclusive mobile minutes start at 500 for only £25 per month and rise to 3,000 (with 3,000 inclusive texts) for £70 per month.

Ideal for BlackBerry and SmartPhone users with its inclusive data.

Contact us for more information or for a free quote and handset choice.

 
 
 
 
*Customer’s first 3 months are free and will be credited back from month 4 – This is not available as cash back. Offer applicable to new 24 month customers and additional connections to existing contracts.

Following straight on from July's figures, here are the top 10 mobiles for business according to the despatch figures for August 2009. Last months position shown in brackets.

1. (3) Samsung M110
2. (1) Nokia 3110
3. (-) BlackBerry 8520
4. (10) Nokia 2680
5. (2) Nokia 6300
6. (-) iPhone
7. (-) Nokia 6600
8. (-) Nokia E63
9. (-) Nokia 2630
10. (-) Nokia 5800

Plenty of new entries, of particular note the BlackBerry 8520 which we are offering on our lowest BlackBerry tariff ever.

We are also able to offer the Apple iPhone, in all of its various model types, for those looking for an excellent SmartPhone, albeit on a much more expensive tariff.

Interestingly most places are made up of less expensive phones, good solid workhorses ideal for both business and tradespeople.

Are alarm clocks a thing of the past?

More and more people are using their mobile phones to wake them up in the morning. In fact more than 50% of people now use their mobiles instead of an alarm clock.

There is even software for mobile phones that can monitor your sleep patterns (by listening to your breathing) and wake you up in the lightest part of your sleep, thus avoiding the shock of a loud alarm when it will affect you most.

Welsh language mobile phones

Mobile phones with Welsh language capacity (for menu and SMS) will soon be available. Initially sold in Welsh phone shops they will eventually be available to buy online.

No sign of 4G in the UK

With sales of SmartPhones soaring, and people using internet on their mobiles more and more, plus new developments such as streaming TV on mobile handsets, the current 3G network capacity is likely to be stretched in the coming years.

The replacement 4G network, with speeds over 100 megabits per second, looks like being a long way off for the UK. Whilst there are rumours of its arrival in other parts of Europe, none of the UK networks look set to launch commercial 4g services in the near future.

Is your SmartPhone safe?

As more and more SmartPhones are bought, more handsets are using common operating systems allowing the possibility of mobile phone viruses in the same way as computer viruses.

There is anti-virus protection available for your phone and it could soon be needed as security companies are reporting a large increase in activity from cyber criminals targetting mobile phones.

 

 

It has finally arrived, our best BlackBerry business mobile deal ever. For only £25 per month you get a free BlackBerry 8520 mobile phone handset (pictured right) with 500 inclusive mobile minutes (plus unlimited calls to UK landlines - 01, 02 and 03), 250 texts and 500mb of data in the form of BlackBerry Internet Solution (BIS).

This is on the Vodafone Your Plan for Small Business. Best of all if you order before the end of August you get three months free line rental! (if you cannot order before September please contact us as these free line rental deals are often extended)

Contact us for your FREE BlackBerry Curve 8520

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 features include a 2.64 inch screen, full QWERTY keyboard, touch-sensitive optical trackpad, memory expandable up to 32GB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2MP camera, BlackBerry OS (512mhz processor), BlackBerry's legendary mobile email, Organizer and MP3/MP4 player.

Stocks are likely to be limited on this deal so please contact us ASAP to get your handset.

Sales of SmartPhones are set to soar in the run up to Christmas as consumers choose feature-packed phones.

Whilst these handsets are expensive to buy outright, they can be obtained free on a wide range of contracts. Also, because they are capable of performing many different tasks, they can actually replace a number of other devices giving the purchaser a complete business and entertainment package on their phone.

For many people mobile phones never leave their side or get switched off. This means that they are always available when needed. You can store photos, video and audio, contact details and documents all in one place and this information can be easily accessed and cross-referenced.

New models are being released all of the time and with each new release mobile handset manufacturers are outdoing each other with more features being packed in.

This does mean that in order to keep up with the latest trends you are likely to have to change handsets more frequently, although the Smartphone software can be updated in the same way as your computer and applications are being developed all of the time for the different operating systems.

Choosing the right handset is becoming more and more difficult as the choice increases. Don't rush into an impulse buy, think carefully about how you are going to use your new phone and make sure the features you need are present. Don't pay extra for a 12 megapixel cameraphone if you aren't going to be doing a serious amount of photography with it!