The sales of SmartPhone mobiles continue to rise and they will likely replace traditional talk and text handsets in the near future. More consumers are finding that the versatile smartphone devices are enhancing their lives with the opportunity of running apps and enabling computer-like usage away from home.

Business users are also finding them invaluable as they provide greater flexibility and improved communication between workplace and site.

Increased competition between manufacturers has brought the price of smartphones down meaning many are now within reach of the smallest business user on the lowliest of tariffs.

The ability of smartphones to run third party software means that they can be used to replace other devices. For instance, GPS enabled smartphones are now used in device tracking.

With a simple software installation the phone can be monitored whilst out and about with an employee. This includes speed and direction when driving/passenger. At all times the phone's position can be seen live in real-time via a web interface.

As well as helping with improving the performance of field based employees, and thus reducing overheads/increasing profits, this system is also invaluable in providing lone worker safety and health and safety compliance.

We have had great success within the care sector where companies with several employees are seeing savings of thousands of pounds whilst at the same time improving customer service and employee performance and safety.

This solution would help many businesses, in fact anyone out in the field or operating a grey fleet (employees using their own vehicles on company business).

Posted in: business mobiles , business phones , business solutions , SmartPhones , telecoms

With most households having at least one, or even more, spare mobile phones tucked away in a drawer it would seem that sales of mobile phones should now be in sharp decline having reached saturation point.

What is keeping mobile phone sales healthy is the growth in the SmartPhone sector. Conventional mobile phones, only utilising talk and text, are becoming history as all of the manufacturers compete to cram more and more features into their latest phones.

Consumers with older mobile phones are now upgrading to a smartphone, driven by the popularity of the iphone and the increasing media coverage and ads for the latest phones.

This intense competition and the entry of several new players such as Google is driving prices lower. SmartPhones can now be obtained free of charge with contracts from £10 per month.

What makes a mobile phone a smartphone? If it contains an operating system, giving it computer-like features, it can be considered a smartphone. There are several operating systems currently available and if you are looking to buy your first smartphone you need to consider which one might suit you best.

SmartPhone operating systems include:

• Android
• Symbian
• Windows Mobile
• BlackBerry OS
• iPhone OS

One deciding factor could be the applications (apps) that are available for your particular operating system. Whilst the iPhone OS has the largest quantity of apps currently, it is only available in iPhones. Whereas the Android operating system, with less apps but a growing number, is available in numerous phones from a variety of different manufacturers giving you a greater choice of handset.

SmartPhones are here to stay and there is no sign of their growth in market share slowing. It will be interesting to see what developments come next in terms of the technology and what more can be done in such a small device.

Posted in: business mobiles , business phones , SmartPhones , telecoms