Getting your new business mobile

Whether you’re starting a new business or developing & improving your existing one – life as a business owner can be sometimes be overwhelming.  

That’s why you’ll want to refine how you work by keeping everything in one place; on your mobile. In this blog we’ll help you understand your requirements, choose the right plan and walk you through how to best setup your device. 

Step 1: Assess your requirements 

Understanding your needs isn’t actually that complicated. It’s a pretty clear process so don’t fret; we’ll do the heavy lifting. Some areas you need to consider are…

• Who needs a business mobile? Depending on who does what will affect how many handsets you need as it’s unlikely all your staff need one, but it’ll be worth thinking about who in your sales, service & customer teams need one.
• How much data do you need? How much time you spend in your office and how much time you’re on the road are typical areas of consideration. If you think about assessing your usage based on time away from Wi-Fi, you’ll have a good starting point.
• Are you looking for a SIM or a new handset package? You may already have a mobile you can use – in which case, brilliant! You just need a new SIM plan.
• What level of coverage do you require? Travelling to more remote locations can cause connection issues with some providers so it’s always best to review provider coverage and check they cover where you need.
• What’s your budget? Whether you’re bothered about getting the best of the best or are you happy with a fully functional budget handset, explore the market and go from there.

Answering these questions helps you understand your requirements. Now you know what you need – let’s find the right deal for you.

Step 2: Get the best deal  

Now you’re fully tuned in to what you need, it’s time to look at prices. To have the best shot at getting the best deal for you, you’ll want to think about a few different things; network providers, optional extras, contract length and more.

• Compare providers. It’s typically best to explore around so you can compare and decide which suits you. When differentiating between them all, tt’s worth looking at their coverage and online reviews.
• Chat to them. Sometimes you can try swing a better deal based on the number of SIMs and handsets you may want.
• Travelling outside of the UK. EU roaming is a benefit some providers can offer but not always. It’s worth checking.
• Contract length. How long do you think you’ll need your SIMs or handsets?

Switch My Service is here to help! Our online service provides instant prices for business mobiles. Take a look for yourself right now!

Step 3: Setting up and securing the business mobile 

Once you’ve chosen your deal and got it over the line, it’s time to setup your SIM and/or handset. Depending on what you’ve got, the setup will be a little longer for your handset over a SIM but once you get going, it’ll be smooth sailing. 

In our experience, we notice trends in what people tend to download and how’s best to optimise your handset. 

Apps 

There’s the usual which we’re sure you’ve heard of and use daily; Outlook, Gmail and Microsoft Teams. These will all directly contribute to your business comms. There’s also WhatsApp which is one of the main forms of communication businesses tend to use at the moment. It’s worth having and the chat within the app is encrypted for security, meaning they’re private.  

Additional apps such Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are also widely used but less often for businesses. This isn’t to say they’re not used at all. Some businesses like to publish content and gain leads from these platforms. If this is you, grab those too. 

Security 

Luckily, for the most part, you aren’t required to download any additional apps to get your secure business mobile journey going. The one extra app which especially comes into play if you’re based in a slightly larger business is Microsoft Authenticator – a 2-factor authentication app. This is used as an extra barrier to stop infiltrators. When having it activated on your Outlook account, for example, it’ll prompt you to match the code within your authenticator app. Input that and you’re good to go. Get it wrong and it won’t let you in – it’s quite simple.  

The usual way of securing your mobile is: 

• Facial recognition – allow your phone to recognise your face and unlock without the need for a passcode.
• Passcode – Not a fan of facial recognition? A passcode can do the same thing, creating that extra layer before opening your apps. Create a unique passcode only you know to deter unwanted entrants to your device.
• Cloud backups – Backup your mobile online just in case your device is lost or breaks. Don’t lose your mobile contents!

It’s well worth doing all of these as they don’t hinder your mobile use, just makes it more secure. You’ll thank yourself in the future. 

Once you’re online and setup, you’re good to go! Crack on with your business and smashing those goals with your newfound productivity levels.  

Are you in need of a new SIM? We’re here to help. Take a look at our current offers and get yourself online, chatting away to potential customers and caring for your existing base.