Seems like just yesterday that TV fans were awestruck by Star Trek’s Captain Kirk talking to the Starship Enterprise through a flip-open, box-like “communicator.” Today that “communicator” is not only real, it has turned into the essential tool for business: a mobile phone.
The way to cut through the morass of choices is to prioritize your search:
A good way to choose business mobile phones is to compare the features of various mobile phone styles.
2) How much can we afford to pay for these features?
Standard Phones: Here’s the basic phone that started it all. Nearly everyone has used a standard phone at some time, and they serve most communication purposes quite well. Standard phones can even become a fashion statement, with a rainbow of colors, pouches and belt holders, stick-on “skins” and “gems,” and even charms. For business purposes, however, standard mobile phones come with disadvantages. Even though they’re the least expensive phone models, their exposed screen scratches easily. This means a high rate of replacement. Plus standard phones are prone to what’s known as “pocket dialing.” That’s when the slightest touch of the phone, even in a pocket or handbag, will cause the phone to dial someone’s number. This can be embarrassing and potentially lose business if it happens too often.
Flip Mobile Phones: Today’s flip mobile phone is probably the closest thing to a direct descendant of Captain Kirk’s communicator. Flip phones have proven themselves to be real workhorses when it comes to business purposes. They’re lightweight, easy to carry, and have plenty of useful everyday features, such as the covered screen, Internet access
including instant messages and email, Bluetooth capacity for hands-free communication, and even FM radio and MP3 play capabilities. One of the best features of flip phones is its camera, which can help capture and transmit images in the field for business purposes.
Slide phones: This hybrid of a standard and a flip phone is gaining popularity. Just as its name implies, the phone simply slides open for calling. Unfortunately, slide phones often have a more limited range. Its exposed screen still can be scratched or damaged easily. Its advantage is that it can carry as many features as a standard or flip phone, along its range can be limited.
PDAs: Ol’ Captain Kirk would drool over today’s “personal digital assistants,” or PDAs. The offspring of a computer and a telephone, PDAs such as the BlackBerry, the Apple iPhone or the Samsung Instinct have become the darlings of today’s global marketplace. With these devices, users can browse the Internet, send and receive emails and instant messages and more.
So now that the models have been surveyed, what’s the final thing that will clinch the decision on which business mobile phone to get? It could be customer brand loyal, that fondness for famous makers such as Nokia, Sony, LG, BlackBerry, Motorola, Samsung, or Palm. Perhaps the tipping point is price, especially if a big staff means buying a larger number of phones. Here’s when economics can outweigh desire: mobile phones cost from under $100 to several hundred dollars. Plus there’s the cost of telephone service to consider, from a minimum of $29 a month to hundreds of dollars.
Perhaps a business has had good success with a particular brand, and wants to stay with it. Mobile brands include famous makers such as Nokia, Sony, LG, BlackBerry, Motorola, HTC, Samsung, Navman, Palm, Mio, Asus and Sonim. Price may also be an issue, especially if a company is buying a large quantity of phones for its staff. Mobile phones can range from under $100 to as high as $800-plus. The cost of a telephone service plan, ranging from as little as $29 per month per phone to hundreds of dollars, also plays a role in choosing mobile phones for business. Whatever its features, the best business mobile phone is the one that fills the company’s needs for the best value.
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