On paper it really is no contest. The Nokia 3510i (pictured) was released in 2002 and basically has no features. No camera, no bluetooth, tiny screen.

On the other hand the Samsung U600 was released in 2007, has a 2.2 inch TFT screen, 3.2 MP camera with video, bluetooth, stereo radio, MP3 player, document viewer etc. etc.

So when my Samsung U600 broke and I had to borrow a Nokia 3510i from a friend I was not too pleased. However, I'm still using the 3510i even after my U600 has been replaced under warranty. Why?

I work in an area where signal quality is not too good. With my Samsung I always struggled to get a signal at all and put it down to the area and lack of signal strength.

When I took my Nokia into work I expected the same thing, after all I was using the same SIM card on the same network, and with it being an older phone I anticipated getting nothing at all.

In actual fact I now get a signal. Not brilliant, but enough to make and receive calls without too many problems, something that I could not do before with my "superior" handset.

Maybe the size of the handset (it is a big old beast) has something to do with it, or the fact that it is a Nokia rather than Samsung, but it really doesn't make much sense.

However when my upgrade comes in November I will be looking for a Nokia and trying it out in the building before deciding whether to buy. It is a phone, after all, and the ability to make and receive calls is more important than the flashy features that are packed into modern handsets.

So when you are looking for your next phone remember that the best phone is not always the latest one or the smartest looking one. Function over form every time.

We specialize in mobile phones for business users, however we also upgrade individual consumers on a range of different networks.

If your current contract is due for renewal shortly, or you are due for a mid-term upgrade, please contact us to see what we can offer you before going direct to the network.

The upgrade process

Depending on your usage the network allocate a banding to your account. Light users will get a low banding which means they will have a limited choice of inexpensive phones when it comes to upgrade time. Heavy users get a high banding and can choose from a large range of the latest mobile handsets.

We can provide you with a list of phones you can choose from and advise you about the best one for your particular usage.

At upgrade time we can also change your tariff. This includes changing minutes, texts and add-ons such as data (email and internet).

Everything can be done in one simple phone call and your new phone can often be despatched the following day. You keep your existing number and if you need help moving your contacts to your new phone or have other questions about your new handset we are only a phone call away.

Do you know when your business mobile contract is due for renewal? If it is due to expire in the next six months contact us to see what we can offer you before agreeing your renewal.

Our aim is to save your business money and we will look at your current tariff, handset/s, bills showing your usage and tailor a plan for you that could well save you a substantial amount.

Over the term of your contract your business is likely to have changed in some ways. This might mean that you are using your phones differently or that new phone features could help your business. Renewing your current contract without a full review could leave you on the wrong tariff with inferior handsets incapable of doing the job you really want them to do.

We deal with businesses across a wide range of sectors and it is very likely that we have a current client doing a similar job to yourselves. This knowledge can be used to give you the best advice on the handsets you need and the best tariffs to make the most of them.

We can do everything over the phone or meet you at your workplace if you prefer. We aim to make it as easy and convenient as possible for you and offer you a number of different tariffs with different networks as required.

What have you got to lose? There are no charges involved and a free quote from Business Mobile World will either save you money or confirm that the tariff you already have is the best for your business. It's a win-win situation.

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.

As well as offering business mobile phones, we also offer a full range of business telecommunications products and services. This includes landline telephones.

We can install new telephone systems, telephone lines (analogue/ISDN2/ISDN30) and reduce your call costs. If you are currently with BT you could be saving up to 40% on your calls.

There is no interruption to your service and you keep your current number. We take over your billing and put you on one of our bespoke tariffs. Calls start from 0.75p per minute.

You get a simple to understand monthly bill detailing all of your calls.

We can also take over your broadband, providing business-grade broadband with low contention ratios, giving you excellent bandwidth and quick resolution in the event of problems.

We have a dedicated landline department, including telephone engineers, so we are only one phone call away if you have any concerns.

So, if you are approaching the end of your current contract, (NB - beware getting trapped into another lengthy contract by your current provider without your knowledge!) then get in touch and see what we can offer your business.

Identity Theft

Identity theft in the mobile phone arena is reportedly on the increase. If fraudsters are able to get hold of your personal details they can add extra handsets to your account, get them sent to another address and use them to run up extremely large bills.

The first you might know about it is when a whopping big bill comes through your door! For those that don't check their bills every month, try to keep a close eye on them and report any suspicious activity as soon as you become aware of it.

Better still keep your data safe in the first place. Shred bills when throwing them away and if a bill doesn't turn up chase it up to make sure it isn't being sent to a new address.

Bluetooth anti-theft device coming soon

The Nio is designed to connect to a key ring (or belt) and communicates permanently with the handset you want to keep safe via bluetooth. If the handset goes out-of-range (for instance you might set the range at 5 metres) then an alarm sounds on both the mobile and the Nio device, alerting you to the problem and also to where the handset has moved to.

You could also attach the Nio device to other items of value such as a laptop to keep them safely in range at all times.

This device is ideal for business users where it is not only a matter of losing a piece of hardware, with its inherent cost plus employee downtime, but also the potential loss of important company data that's at stake.

Our aim at Business Mobile World is to make your business communications simple, straightforward and cost-effective. One of the ways we can cut your costs is by including free calls within your package.

We offer many business mobile tariffs that include free calls to UK landlines. These are numbers beginning 01, 02 and 03. Eg. 0115 944 8977 (our number for you to call us).

If you have an inclusive package with free landline minutes this leaves the remainder of your minutes solely for mobile-to-mobile calls. This could mean a serious reduction in the number of inclusive minutes you need, a reduction in tariff, and best of all a reduction in your monthly costs.

If you have more than one mobile handset we can include free calls between all of your company mobiles. Again this can reduce the number of minutes you need and therefore the cost.

You need to analyze your current bills (or let us do it for you) and see where your minutes are being used. From this we can ensure you get the best value-for-money package.

We can also offer a GSM gateway (or Premicell) which you use for your landline calls to mobiles. This device automaticaly routes all calls starting 07 (mobile numbers) via a dedicated sim card meaning that these minutes can come out of your monthly inclusive allowance.

All of these ideas can be used together to ensure that you pay as little as possible for every business phone call and therefore maximise your profits.

There has been speculation in the mobile world about the possible takeover of the UK arm of T-Mobile for a little while. Vodafone were thought to be bidding, as were 02.

However T-Mobile UK look set to merge with Orange in a deal set to create a mobile phone goliath with 37% of the UK market (over 28 million customers), overtaking 02 as the largest network.

The deal could be signed by November and will mean the companies make large ongoing savings through sharing network resources and streamlining their admin and customer service operations.

These savings could well result in lower tariffs for their customers in the future however for the time being all accounts will run as normal as both brands will be retained, at least for the time being.

It is unknown what will happen to Virgin Mobile, which runs on T-Mobile's network, or 3, which has recently signed up to do the same. These issues could be affected by possible intervention by the competition authorities who are likely to want to scrutinise the deal and the effect it will have on the UK mobile phone market.

Business mobile phone users with both networks should be unaffected in the short term but, as we always recommend, when their contracts are due for renewal should look around for the best deals by contacting us.

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.

Your old phones can be recycled for cash. There are now dozens of companies who will take your phone, working or broken, and pay you cash in return.

Many people now have at least one spare phone, and some households will have several tucked away in cupboards and drawers. Each one can be monetized by sending it to a recycler where they will either be reconditioned for sale again or, if they are beyond repair, be broken down for the parts they contain.

If you have several phones they will arrange for collection from your premises. They could be worth from £5 to £120 each so the returns add up.

We can take your old phones in part exchange against a new business mobile deal. Get in touch for a free valuation and save money on your business communications at the same time.

We can probably give you a better price than a recycler would pay and save you the hassle of organizing it all. Give us a call on 0844 880 8116 to find out more.

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.

We've been doing some research on the best selling business mobile handsets and looked at our despatched phones for July. The results are as follows:

1. Nokia 3110
2. Nokia 6300
3. Samsung M110
4. BlackBerry 8120
5. Nokia 6500
6. Nokia 2760
7. BlackBerry 8900
8. LG Cookie
9. Nokia E71
10. Nokia 2680

We stock a real variety of mobile phones, from the most basic functional unit for making and receiving calls to the latest SmartPhones including the iPhone.

We can source just about any phone that's currently being made so whichever mobile phone you need for your business get in touch and we'll get you the best deal.

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.