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Choosing the right mobile phones for your business is a big decision. That’s why the team at Gadget Cover has put together this handy buying guide.

From working out your business requirements and the best features to choose, to the top business smartphone brands, price plans, and how to protect your new phone with business mobile phone insurance, we’ve got it all here.

In these testing economic times, having the right tech at your fingertips can make the difference between business failure and success. If you haven’t considered all your options, you could easily end up with an inappropriate handset or a contract that turns your business dreams into a nightmare!

 

Work out your business requirements with these 10 all-important questions

When you decide to invest in a mobile phone for your business, you may think it’s as straightforward as walking into a mobile phone shop and buying a phone you like. Unfortunately, things are never quite as simple as that.

To really get the best mobile phone for your business, you’ll first need to consider what your business needs are. Just like business mobile phone insurance policies, there’s no one-size-fits all answer to working out your business requirements.

Any successful business needs reliable communications. So, it’s well worth taking the time to choose the best phone features, brand, price plan, and network for the work you do. Here are 10 questions to consider when choosing mobile phones for your business operations.

 

1. What does your business need a mobile phone for?

This may sound like a strange question but when it comes to making any buying decisions you really need to be clear about how your business uses mobile communication. It’s all well and good getting the latest must-have device but how is it actually going to benefit your business? When you consider that some flagship phones cost over £1000 you want to be certain about which features and price plan you will need.

Some questions which can help clarify your business calling needs are:

• How often will you make outgoing calls? Do you only need it during business hours? Or do you need something 24/7 including evenings, bank holidays and weekends?
• Where do you call? Do you often make international calls, or do you tend to stay local?
• Do you need the phone to access emails, messaging services and the internet?
• Will features such as the camera or video calling be used extensively?

 

2. Do you have specific security needs?

As our lives have become ever more reliant on mobile phones, so can our businesses be adversely affected if something goes wrong with our tech. Business sensitive information, customer details, private phone conversations and messages, and financial or personal information has to be protected from falling into the wrong hands.

Modern mobile phone manufacturers and network providers are constantly working to keep us from harm. But problems still happen with many businesses vulnerable to hacking, theft and other criminal activities.

Not all phones are equal and some are easier to protect than others. From strong passwords and encryption apps to secure VPNs there’s a lot to think about here. Read some of our top tips on how to make your phone safer now.

3. Are there apps you absolutely have to download?

There are some incredible apps out there that your business may already be relying on. Such business software and handy app tools are so easy to use on mobile devices. But as we’re sure you are aware, some apps may not be available on all mobile phones.

For example, an Android phone might not work with an app that’s only available through the App Store, and vice versa. So, you might have to make adjustments to your business processes to take account of this and ensure that work flows as smoothly as before. That said, many of the best apps are now available for most phone models.

If you’re wondering if there’s an app to help you with a certain issue then read this Gadget Cover guide to 21 of the best apps for small businesses. From the feature packed Microsoft office suite to expenses trackers and cloud-based accounting services there’s bound to be one of two you could use. There’s probably even one that will help make sure your business mobile phone insurance premiums are kept up to date.

 

4. What will your mobile phone need to be compatible with?

Do you have specific business software that staff need to be able to access from their phones? If there are any compatibility issues at all then this could put a big dent in your business productivity. 

Or perhaps you need staff phones to be able to link up seamlessly. Mobile phones are a perfect way to organise everyone’s working day and keep a track of projects that staff are working on.

But every type of phone offers slightly different tools such as calendars, reminders, password keepers, and so on. Being able to sync phone calendars and business agendas across your team will really help streamline your day - if you’ve got the right tech and knowhow.

 

5. How many mobile phones will you need?

Does every staff member need a business phone? It may be that only certain key people will actually have to use a phone as part of your business.

 

6. What coverage do you need?

Whether a missed call, unanswered email, or poor Wi-Fi connection, anything disruptive can hurt both your reputation with customers and your bottom line.

Checking phone coverage in your area is easier than ever, with all the big mobile phone network providers now offering information on phone coverage for most of the country. When choosing a network, working out which company has the best mobile phone coverage in your area is such an important question to get answered. Always take a look at Ofcom’s mobile coverage checker to confirm which of the networks is best in your area.

After all, if you’re missing customer calls then it doesn’t matter what a great deal you got on the phones, it’s going to harm your business!

 

7. When and where will the phones be used?

Questions such as whether phones will be used at peak times or taken abroad on business trips can certainly affect your choices. And will phones largely be used in the office or will staff be spending a significant amount of time on the road?

For example, a salesperson who is often working on trains or at client offices will probably need something different from someone who spends their time on construction sites around the country. Will all your staff be working in the same environment with a similar risk profile? It may be that one group of employees is better suited to more robust handsets than others.

An important factor to take into account is battery life. While mobile phone manufacturers have all been working hard to prolong the battery life of these power-hungry machines, some have been more successful than others.

If staff travel for business or are away from a power source for a large amount of time, you’ll need a reliable phone with fast charging and excellent battery life.

8. What’s your business budget?

Working out your budget for mobile phone costs is an important concern, but the price tag needs to be weighed against the potential benefit to your business of having the right technology. When finding a pricing plan to fit your business needs, factor in the following:

• Upfront cost of mobile phone handsets.
• Monthly network fees.
• Cost of any additional phone services.
• Additional accessories such as wireless headphones, fast chargers or keyboards.

 

9. How do you want to be billed?

As your business grows it can be tempting to just buy a mobile as you hire each new employee. But this can cause problems if you go to different network providers and buy a variety of different handsets. Having lots of different bills and tariffs can be a real headache when it comes to managing your business.

 

10. What after-sales support do you need?

Depending on your business IT needs you might need significant after-sales support when it comes to handsets and software. Finding the right solution can take time and effort, so it’s always worth getting some specialist knowledge.

Finding business mobile phone insurance is what our team here at Gadget Cover specialise in. We will ask you the right questions to assess your business and can guide you on what insurance will be best for your specific requirements.

 

8 mobile phone features your business can’t do without

Here are 8 key phone features we recommend to check out when choosing the right mobile phone for your business. Depending on your line of work there could be more, but these are a great place to start.

1. Long battery life and fast charging

   As we said earlier, not every mobile phone will offer great battery life and superfast charging. When you’re dealing with something business critical you can’t allow lack of power to let you down.

2. High quality screen

   High resolution screens are to be expected on most flagship phones now. But they can come in a wide variety of sizes. Do you need a large screen to view spreadsheets when on the move or will the smaller variety be enough for sending the occasional email? Make sure screen protection is included in any business mobile phone insurance.

3. Processing power and hefty storage

   From PDF apps and photo editing software to privacy services, many business phones will require a fair bit of oomph to deliver on their potential. If you need to store considerable amounts of data to take along to pitches or business meetings then you’ll want storage to spare.

4. Snappy camera and video recording

   The ability to effortlessly shoot high quality videos and photos is an important weapon to have in your business armoury. Whether you need professional-looking videos or simply an occasional snap for your social media feed, this is a feature that should be high up on your list.

5. Sharp design

   How important is the look and feel of the mobile phone for your business image? Your phone can make a powerful statement to both clients and staff about what your business priorities are.

6. 5G

   With instant streaming and lower buffering speeds, a 5G-ready phone is rapidly becoming a business necessity for some. However, be aware that not everywhere has 5G available yet.

7. Security features

   Keeping these business-critical items secure and private is an increasing concern for business owners. To provide an extra layer of security, many manufacturers have started adding fingerprint readers or ever more advanced facial recognition technology into screens. Remember, if your phone is accidentally lost or even stolen, business mobile phone insurance could protect you against the cost of unauthorised transactions made using your phone.

8. Accessibility features

Ensuring all staff can access and use their business mobile is an important consideration for business owners. Always consider if your staff member requires particular accessibility features.

Top brand mobiles for your business to consider

You are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a mobile phone brand for your business. These are such powerful machines that any of them could be a great fit for your business needs.

The first question you’ll need to consider is whether to go with a phone running the iOS operating system (an Apple phone) or one running the Android operating system (pretty much everyone else).

They’re both amazing but do offer slightly different things to the business user. If you’re wondering about which is right for you then our ultimate guide to buying a mobile phone might also be worth reading. It helps answer this question and many more besides.

Here are just some of the best business mobile phones your money can buy in 2022:

• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• Oppo Find X3 Pro
• OnePlus 10 Pro
• Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
• Google Pixel 6 Pro
• Xiaomi Mi 11
• Huawei P50 Pro

If you’re looking for more in-depth information on these phones then be sure to read some of our most recent mobile phone guides. From the best features of the iPhone 13 Pro Max to the ultimate guide to the OnePlus 10 Pro, there’s lots to learn on the Gadget Cover blog.

 

Hunting down the right price plan

As a business owner, finding the right price is always going to be an important consideration. But to do that you’ll have to have two things very clear in your mind. The type of mobile phone you’re looking for and what you intend to use it for. These will have a big impact on the price you’ll pay.

For most businesses signing a contract with a network provider for a minimum of 12 to 24 months will be the most cost-effective way to obtain mobile phones for staff. The handsets will either come at a comparatively low cost or even free of charge.

Provided you have business mobile phone insurance in place then you’ll be well protected against loss, damage or theft. If you already have a handset then there are some great SIM-only deals out there worth investigating.

Some options worth considering when hunting down the right price plan for your business include:

• Pay Monthly deals. Perhaps the most common variety of price plans. You’ll pay one, fixed monthly payment for all devices and tariffs. With anything used above your monthly allowances charged separately.
• Pay As You Go deals. If you’re looking to tightly control mobile phone usage then PAYG could be useful. But topping-up mobile phone balances when credit runs out can be tricky from an administration point of view.
• As businesses grow, they can change very rapidly. A contract with no fixed term and which allows you to upgrade hardware and change your price plan at any point could be very useful.
• Bolt ons. These let you add extra minutes, texts and data to your plan. So, if you've run low on minutes, texts or data you can simply purchase a bolt on to give them a boost until your allowances reset.
• International calling. Not every business mobile phone contract will include allowances for international calls. If your business requires international travel then seek out plans with good international roaming rates. Some networks might offer free international roaming if you take out a monthly contract with them. If you want to find out more on the best mobile phone perks on offer then read our handy guide.

How to protect your business investment

From water damage and broken screens to theft and cybercrime, it’s clear every business needs to protect itself against harm. The best way to do this is with business mobile phone insurance. If you shop around, there’s bound to be a policy to guard against a whole range of issues at an affordable price.

You then need to ensure that all staff members have a decent screen protector installed and use a phone case to protect against bumps, scrapes and drops.

Finally, theft and cybercrime are also a huge concern to any business. Ensure all staff follow a sensible company policy to protect your business mobile phones from theft and hacking. These could include:

• Turning on the internal device locator.
• Keeping your phone locked and password protected.
• Keeping your OS up to date.
• Installing antivirus software and avoiding dodgy downloads.
• Keeping up to date on the latest phone scams.

 

Business mobile phone insurance with Gadget Cover

A business owner will never be far from their trusty mobile phone. But having such a valuable item with you at all times means your device – and the vital business data it contains – can be at serious risk.

* Business mobile phone insurance policies arranged by Gadget Cover include protection for things like accidental damage, liquid damage, theft, breakdown and unauthorised usage. For an additional premium, policies can also cover your phone and gadgets against loss.

* Terms and conditions may apply

Get a quick quote for business mobile phone insurance from Gadget Cover today.