Small Business Mobile

Vodafone have some great deals for small businesses. Their offers vary nearly every week, but they are always extremely competitive.

Your new business mobiles should really deliver on a combination of improved customer service, productivity, reduced downtime, and of course; better communication with staff, clients, suppliers, etc. If the latter doesn’t seem to be happening, there’s something seriously wrong!


These days you can expect pretty much anything from your mobile phone – and small business mobile phones should be no different. We demand versatile, reliable, high-tech and often pretty good looking mobiles these days – it’s simply a case of prioritising your needs and those of your staff. I.e. does your phone need to look the part, act it, or both?

Alongside the usual things like text messaging, organisers, and sizable data storage; some requirements might include e-mail and internet access, personal organisers, quality cameras, mp3 players, video and access to a wide range of dial-up services.

Other features that are particularly good to have with your small business mobile, are things like group calling and group voice / text messaging. Be practical though; don’t bother forking out for any of the extra gadgets and gismos if you won’t actually use them. Plenty of business people still only need to be able to telephone one another, as unbelievable as that may sound! In which case all the extra features (which inevitably cost more) are probably a waste of money.


Some small business mobile phone solutions do need to be fairly advanced though, particularly if you’re inclined to use your phone rather like a computer. Just make sure you consider what model, tariff, coverage and service options, and provider are right for your business. Let’s be honest; the whole business is pretty dull so it would be great not to have to start all over again in a few months time.

Smart Phones (like the HP i PAQ) and PDAs (eg: the Blackberry) are often used as business phones, due to the sophistication of the software involved, and the ease with which their data can synchronise with other media like PCs.


Other things to consider when choosing your small business mobile phones:

- Travel – do you or your team travel abroad frequently? If so, make sure your tariff includes good value overseas minutes, and the all important network coverage.

- Customer service – often small businesses don’t have an in-house communications / IT department, in which case the customer service provided by your mobile phone company could prove to be a lifeline. A short amount of research online (taken with a pinch of salt) should establish who to beware of. Also look at what’s included with your package, and what’s a hidden extra.

- To who, where, when, and for how long are most of the calls made – consider the geographic location, as well as whether most calls are to landlines or other mobiles. In the case of the latter; establish whether these are same or different-network calls.


Often in a small business the top dogs and / or decision makers can spend a considerable chunk of time away from the rest of their team – this makes the mobile solution of choice vitally important. If you own or run a small business; mobile communications need to be efficient, dependable, and affordable.