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Business Mobile World

 Wednesday, November 25, 2009

 

How easy is it to carry out crimes on the streets from behind bars? Well first of all you need to know the right people and you need around £400.

 

This is why there has been a call to jam mobile phone signals from an inspector. This would stop crimes on the streets, including drug trafficking, and bullying within prisons.

 

It is believed that there are 3 times as many mobile phones in circulation than have actually been seized. So going on figures from 2008, 7000 mobile phones where seized, with a black market value of 9million.  This means that there are potentially 21,000 mobile phones in circulation in UK prisons.

 

The prison service say that blocking signals is a slow and costly process but the technology is out there. For each prison to have the technology would cost £250,000 per prison.

 

But…will signal jamming affect the public outside the prison? Is the technology there to be specific with the signal blocking? Or will they have each individual network track signals from inside the prison and maybe get an imei block? Would that be possible and more cost effective? Or would that be too much work for the networks?

 

Interestingly at this moment in time it is not against the law to be in possession of a mobile phone in prison, the only law is on smuggling the phone into jail.

 

Author: Simon Hunt

Position: Telecommunications Consultant with 21C Telecom

11/25/2009 12:17:38 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback
 Tuesday, November 24, 2009

New UK Mobile Phone Deals websiteThe new UK Mobile Phone Deals website is now live and ready for you to visit.

As well as offering business mobile phones, it also has links to consumer mobiles with a mobile phone shop offering free mobiles, the latest deals, offers and mobile phone extras.

There is a blog, online polls, mobile broadband section and there will be plenty more to come in the near future.

We intend to keep it updated with the latest mobile phone news on a daily basis, at least during the working week, and it will have different content to the stuff posted here on Business Mobile World.

It is based on the MojoPortal content management system and is an experiment in terms of its effectiveness in search engine optimisation. We will be keeping a close eye on it in the search engines to see if it does better or worse than the old site.

 

11/24/2009 3:54:30 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback

 

Further to the meeting held by Peter Mandelson with all 5 major network providers to have a Spectrum reframe (to hit Labour's Mobile broadband targets by 2012).

 

T-Mobile and Orange are now telling the UK regulator that they do not want to give up spectrum in exchange for regulatory approval of their planned merger. This isn’t going to please OFCOM as the merger will have 37% of mobile customers and over 50% of all available spectrum.

 

It will be unlikely that Vodafone and 02 will give up any of the 900mhz bandwidth if T-Mobile and Orange are not going to let go of any of their spectrum to meet Mandelson's 2012 targets. It should be remembered that there is a General election coming up next year which could change things!

 

What is Spectrum?

 

According to Wikipedia it is "the range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation". For more information read the Ofcom pdf relating to the Frequency Allocation Table which contains 224 pages of further info.

 

 

Author: Simon Hunt

Position: Telecommunications Consultant with 21C Telecom

 

 

11/24/2009 1:56:31 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback
 Friday, November 20, 2009

We have updated our business mobile enquiry form with new security via a captcha. This is something you have likely come across on the internet before when filling out forms and it stops spammers from utilising the form to send out their emails.

Captcha Example

An example is on the right. By entering the two words (in this case "utopias" and "Budget") it confirms you are a human being. Also it has an in-built audio feature for people who are visually impaired.

Hopefully it will work to stop the spam applications which come through from time to time. If it is successful it will be rolled out across all of the company application forms for landlines, mobile broadband etc.

Otherwise the form remains the same, asking the same questions which enable us to find your business the best business mobile deal from the networks we deal with.

 

11/20/2009 2:41:58 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback

It's been a bit quiet here with our blogger and website updater away for a couple of weeks. However, he's back now and raring to go!

So what's been happening in the world of mobile phones and business mobile phones in the past 14 days? This is a chance for you (and him!) to catch up with the latest mobile phone news in the UK.

  • Firstly it looks like some staff at T-Mobile have been selling-on data on its customers to third parties who then contact the customers in advance of their upgrade date to upgrade their phones. This illegal activity is likely to result in a criminal prosecution and even some jail time. However there is no suggestion that details such as financial information/bank accounts have been compromised or sold on.
  • Harriet Harman, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, looks like being prosecuted for being involved in a road accident whilst using a mobile phone. There is no excuse for using your handset whilst driving, hands-free kits are available and are very cheap. We can supply any of our existing customers with the kits and can even arrange for installation where a fixed kit is required.
  • Arriva, the bus company, has become the first in the UK to launch a mobile phone ticket service. Prepaid tickets can be sent to your mobile phone. The ticket is then activated by the user on the day of travel and shown to the driver in the same way as a paper ticket.
  • Recent research suggests that UK businesses could potentially be wasting up to £264 million each year on mobile call costs. This is mainly due to employees simply picking up the phone and ringing without thinking about the cost of the call and whether there are cheaper options available (after all it is not their money they are wasting!).

    Many of these calls are made from within offices where alternatives are available. However, employees are not the only ones to blame. Many businesses fail to make the best use of their resources, such as Wi-Fi networks, which could enable cheap/free calls over the internet from their business mobiles.

    If your business is looking to save money on its phone calls get in touch for a wide range of options available to small businesses and largeer users alike.

That's some of the news from the mobile phone world. To keep in touch with developments bookmark this blog, which will now be updated a bit more often!

11/20/2009 11:45:21 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback
 Thursday, November 05, 2009

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.

11/5/2009 11:29:55 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback
 Wednesday, November 04, 2009

When choosing a mobile phone there are a number of different designs which offer variable user experiences. The one you choose may be decided by specific reasons or a good experience with a particular handset in the past.

  • Candy Bar

The "standard" form factor, used on the very first mobile phones and still popular today. With this type of phone there is no protection for the screen or keyboard. Be careful not to keep it in a pocket with keys or other items that could scratch or damage the screen. Also make sure that the keyboard is locked as accidentally dialling someone or accessing the internet (many browser keys seem to be placed deliberately in a position where accidental use is encouraged!) could incur extra charges.

  • Slide Phone

Usually the top part of the phone containing the screen slides over the keyboard. This means that the keyboard is protected but the screen remains exposed. They can be prone to screen damage due to broken connectors in the slide mechanism.

  • Flip Phones / Clam Shell

Very rare nowadays to see a flip phone. The advantages are both the keyboard and main screen are protected. Outer screens remain at risk of scratching and breakage. When opened the phones should give a decent call experience with earpiece and microphone naturally in the right place.

  • Touchscreen

More and more modern mobile phones are touchscreen. They can be used by touching with your fingers or a stylus. Keyboard use is via a "virtual keyboard" that appears on the main screen. Different manufacturers utilise technologies that give a different feel to their touchscreens. Some users swear by them but others cannot get on with them. It is easier to make a mistake than with a traditional keyboard.

  • Hybrids

Some phones are now being released that feature more than one of these technologies. For instance they have a touchscreen top panel which slides out to reveal a standard keyboard. The best of both worlds or just more things to go wrong??

11/4/2009 12:02:45 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback

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.

11/4/2009 10:17:27 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback
 Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Have you heard of affiliate marketing? The basic idea is that you refer business to other companies in return for either a flat fee or percentage of any deal that is done.

Whilst we don't yet operate an official program, we will reward anyone who can put good business our way. Maybe your current company is in the B2B field and has contacts with a number of businesses who may have telecoms requirements?

The best type of business is referral business. If you are happy with our service and tell other businesses about it then there is a good chance of them becoming customers too.

You don't have to worry about referring business to us, the deals offered by Business Mobile World are some of the best around and your referrals are likely to be pleased you recommended us when they see how much they could save.

As we offer mobile phones, landline, broadband and more there is plenty of scope for selling our products and services to your business contacts.

We are willing to pay up to 50% of our earned commission or fee to referrers of quality business. For more information please contact us to see what we can offer.

 

 

11/3/2009 4:25:46 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback
 Monday, November 02, 2009

The despatch figures for October are in and the winner is...........

The BlackBerry 8520. This the best selling business mobile phone for October across our range of websites. This is the choice of users looking for a budget BlackBerry as it can be obtained free of charge on tariffs from £25. This INCLUDES data usage too.

In second place is the Samsung M110. This is also known as the "builders phone" as it comes in a rubberized casing making it shockproof. It is also dust proof and damp proof.

Keeping up Nokia's excellent record in the charts is the Nokia 6300 in third place. This is a solid business phone with a durable metal casing, ideal for all "road warriors" and those looking for a good quality, functional and inexpensive phone.

Another BlackBerry occupies fourth place, the BlackBerry 8900. Offering the usual quality expected of RIM and the excellent business tools including email and organizer.

Fifth place goes to another Samsung, the Samsung B2100. Another solid phone designed for those working in tough environments. Expect this to take over from the Samsung M110 in future lists.

Three Nokias occupy positions six to eight, namely the 3110, 6303 and 2680.

Bringing up the rear are the Samsung S5230, aka the Samsung Star, and the Nokia 6600 slide.

Only three manufacturers make this months list of the best business mobiles, no room for Apple, Motorola, Sony, HTC and a host of others. We have to conclude that, at this moment, if you are looking for a business mobile go for a Nokia, BlackBerry or Samsung!

11/2/2009 2:26:13 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback

 

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.

11/2/2009 12:49:13 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback
 Friday, October 30, 2009

As a business user you are very likely to enter into a contract for your business mobiles rather than pay as you go. How long should your business mobile contract be?

If you are dealing direct with the network it is likely they will want to tie you to them for as long as possible. 12 month contracts are becoming a thing of the past and you are more likely to be offered 18 month, 24 month or even 36 month contracts.

Wherever possible you should keep the contract term as short as is available. This allows you the flexibility to change tariffs earlier and to replace equipment when it becomes obsolete.

Occasionally there are reasons why a longer term is necessary. For instance, if you want a large quantity of expensive phones free of charge you are going to have to take a long contract to allow the networks to recoup the initial purchase costs of the phones over the full duration of the contract.

Rather than take out a long contract in these circumstances you could opt for a shorter contract and put an amount towards the cost of the handsets.

Alternatively you could opt for a shorter contract with less expensive handsets. It is often possible to find cheaper mobiles which still do the same job equally as well. A bit of research can pinpoint the models which offer all of the features you need.

Longer contracts can also offer lower monthly payments. Some tariffs will have different monthly payments for exactly the same amount of minutes and texts depending on the contract duration.

Every business is different and has different requirements for their mobile contracts. Whatever your requirements we can put together a business mobile package that suits you and offers the best balance between handsets, usage and contract length. Contact us for your free quote.

10/30/2009 2:28:23 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback

It's not easy keeping up-to-date with all of the manufacturers, networks and companies providing operating systems and apps when they are announcing new developments on a daily basis. Here are some of the developments we've spotted which should be coming to the UK soon.

Projectors

Projector technology has now advanced to such a degree that there are projector units available of a similar size to a mobile phone. The next logical step is to integrate the projector within a mobile phone handset.

This has already been achieved within a Samsung handset available in South Korea (the home of the latest mobile phone gadgets) but will inevitably be coming to these shores in the fullness of time.

The projector could be used for business presentations but could also show live TV and stored media via the handset.

Free SatNav

Many mobile phones already include maps and sat navs, however there is usually a subscription charge for using the service. Google have now introduced a free service offering turn-by-turn navigation integrated with Google Maps as part of their Android 2.0 operating system.

This offers most of the features available in the average sat nav unit like live traffic data plus satellite imagery from Google Maps and real pictures of destinations via the Google street view service.

Currently available in the US, this technology will no doubt be making its way across the pond very soon.

Going green

As well as mobile phone handset manufacturers jumping on the green bandwagon with new models such as the Samsung Blue Earth - using recycled plastic, a five-star rated energy efficient charger, plus additional solar chargers on the rear of the phone - you will soon be checking your home energy use via your mobile.

Smart meters showing energy consumption within your home will soon become mandatory. The data they produce can then be sent to your phone so you can keep track of how much energy you are using and how much it is costing even when you are at work or on holiday. It may even be possible in the future to turn off appliances and lights remotely from your mobile!

These are just a few of the developments currently being made in the mobile phone world. We will keep you posted as and when new stuff appears which may help business mobile phone users.

10/30/2009 11:36:14 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback
 Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Work is continuing on our group website UK mobile phone deals. As blogged previously we have been experimenting with a content management system (CMS) to make it easier for us to update the site remotely.

We originally tried Joomla, which was easy to install and get up and running. However, it was a little counter-intuitive, not easy to use for a beginner, although it might have become easier with a bit of practice.

However, what finally led us to abandon this system was the implementation of search engine friendly urls. When we turned them on within the software it caused a number of problems. Despite much research on the internet we were unable to solve these problems.

It looks like our Windows based server was the problem. Many users running Windows encountered similar problems. Rather than migrate all of our sites to another server we decided to look for a Windows-friendly CMS.

After a bit of research we came across MojoPortal. After download it was a big package to unzip and upload and installation didn't go without a hitch. However the problem was that the server was running an old version of ASP.NET. Once it was updated to the 3.5 Framework the program installed itself without a hitch.

Getting started was made easier by the online video tutorials which guided us through the set up stage and the interface is very user friendly. We haven't done much with it so far, you can see it in action at http://www.ukmobilephonedeals.co.uk/index.aspx.

We are currently experimenting with what it can do and will ultimately be looking at using our own templates to get a website design that better suits the subject matter (business mobiles).

Once we are completely happy with the new site it will go live and then we will look at implementing similar systems on our main site, 21C Telecom, due for relaunch in 2010.

10/28/2009 2:10:01 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback

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.

10/28/2009 11:19:51 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback
 Tuesday, October 27, 2009

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.

 

10/27/2009 5:20:50 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback

The latest news on the release date of the iPhone on the Orange network is that it will be 10th November, a day after O2's exclusive deal expires. This will make them the only official competitor in the run up to Christmas as Vodafone will not be carrying the iPhone until next year and neither 3 nor T-Mobile have officially announced that they will carry the phone.

3 are rumoured to be considering carrying the handset, with no offical announcement, whilst T-Mobile have ruled themselves out, although they are importing iPhones on an unofficial basis for some of their high spend and valuable customers.

So if you are looking for an iPhone on contract this Christmas your choice is likely to be O2 or Orange. This could drive prices slightly lower although a real price war is unlikely until Vodafone start their iPhone sales in the New Year.

If you are an Orange customer looking to upgrade to an iPhone and your contract is due for upgrade in the next couple of months get in touch with us as we also offer consumer upgrades on the Orange network in addition to our core business mobile sales.

Similarly if you are on O2 customer we can help you with upgrading to the Apple iPhone. You just have to be nearing the end of your contract.

The tariffs for a free iPhone on O2 start at around £35 for a 24 month contract. This includes 600 minutes, 500 messages and "unlimited" data. This is for the basic 3G 8GB. If you are looking for the iPhone 3GS 32GB you are going to have to pay around £75 per month to get one free of charge.

There are no details of tariffs yet on the Orange website but there is the option to pre-register for news of release and the opportunity of getting one as soon as it is released.

If you are a business customer we can help you with a new iPhone on a wide range of tariffs. Just contact us for a free no obligation quotation.

 

10/27/2009 11:56:31 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback
 Monday, October 26, 2009

Businesses should always be looking at saving money. After all every penny saved is added to the business profits. Keeping an eye on all of your expenditure and making sure that you always have the best deal is one way of ensuring your costs are as low as they can be.

But is the cheapest deal always the best deal? Sometimes it is. For instance the gas and electricity that your business receives will be exactly the same regardless of which distributor you use. Prices between distributors vary greatly.

With business mobile phones there are a number of variables which mean that sometimes the cheapest deal is not going to deliver the results you want.

For a start there are handsets. The very cheapest handsets should deliver you a reasonable voice and text service, and if that is all you need then sourcing the cheapest business mobile deal is right for you.

Businesses who need durable phones with few added features, such as builders and other tradesmen, will find that their chosen handsets will be relatively cheap allowing them to choose from a full range of tariffs and get their handsets free.

However if you are going to need data use (email and/or internet), gps or camera functions then you need to think carefully which handsets will deliver all of the necessary functionality. If you need the latest handsets you are not going to get them free of charge on the cheapest tariffs, but if you use a lot of minutes, texts and data you could find that the tariff you need allows you to get the best handsets too.

Of course keeping a close eye on all of your expenditure is time-consuming and could take your focus away from your core business. That is why it could be a wise move to employ a broker to handle all of your telecoms requirements. They don't have to worry about running your business, they focus solely on your communications, how they could be improved and where money can be saved.

At Business Mobile World we can handle all of your mobile phone, landline and broadband infrastructure plus the necessary IT to make it all work together seamlessly. A converged solution offers your business full integration between fixed-line and mobile devices, offering improved communication and reduced costs. Get in touch to find out more.

 

10/26/2009 9:57:03 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback
 Friday, October 23, 2009

Many of us have mobile phones lying around in drawers unused. Often a family could have several handsets belonging to family members which are no longer in use. These could be turned into easy cash by recycling.

There are now many websites offering mobile phone recycling. You enter your phone make and model and whether it is working or not and they give you a price. Or they could make a similar donation to charity (Children in Need this year are encouraging people to recycle their phones in order to help them).

However, be aware that may of these phones could end up in Nigeria or China, hotspots for cyber crime and fraud, and make sure that you delete all of your information from the phone memory.

This does not mean simply clicking on the "delete" button on your phone. Your mobile phone memory works in the same way as a computer hard drive. When you click to delete the data is not actually deleted but that portion of memory is available to be overwritten in due course.

A recent problem with a camera memory card which had apparently deleted some photos in error turned up 417 photos which were recovered using a bit of free software downloaded from the internet.

If you are thinking of recycling your phone make sure you use software to wipe the memory. Apart from embarrassing photos and texts there could be bank details, addresses and other info useful to fraudsters.

10/23/2009 11:25:03 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback
 Thursday, October 22, 2009

A recent poll by Consumer Focus found that nearly 70% of people think there are too many mobile phone tariffs available. The figure they quote for the total number of tariffs is a staggering 1.3 million!

As a result many people are not getting the best deal available and are finding hidden costs, for instance for accessing voicemail, after they have signed up to a contract.

With business mobile tariffs you can experience similar problems. There are so many different tariffs offering voice and texts, plus a huge range of bolt-ons for data, extra texts etc. Getting the right tariff that exactly meets your needs is difficult and, if you don't, your business is going to be overspending.

Rather than do the hard work of contacting all of the networks individually yourself, let us make it easy for you. We have access to all of the business tariffs plus all of the different mobile phone handsets allowing us to tailor a deal that exactly suits your business needs.

Our service is free and we are available at all times to discuss any changes plus advise you about other ways of saving money and utilising mobile communications that you may not have thought of.

We can start from a blank slate or can analyze your current bills to see exactly where your money is being spent and where savings could be made. A free review costs you nothing and will at least let you know if better deals are out there.

If you are not yet ready for a review but would like a quick chat about your business mobile contract just pick up the phone and call 0844 880 8116.

 

 

10/22/2009 9:27:09 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)  #    Disclaimer  |  Comments [0]  |  Trackback