Entrepreneurship

Smartphones for business

Choosing a business phone isn’t easy. There’s a lot to think about, and it’s important that you get this decision right. After all, you might have the handset for a long time, and you’ll no doubt use it a lot, so it will affect your daily life.

Before you agree to get a particular model, you should consider the contract that comes with it. For example, how much is the monthly tariff and how long is the agreement scheduled to last? Also, how big is the data allowance and how many inclusive minutes and texts will you receive? The price of the handset may also factor in your decision making process. Depending on the deal you get, your phone may come free.

When it comes to choosing from the plethora of devices currently on the market, it’s a good idea to get tips from friends, family members and colleagues, and you can check out user reviews online too. Meanwhile, if you’re after some inspiration, you can take a look at these top-quality options.

iPhone 5S

Apple’s products have long been popular among consumers, and companies are increasingly turning to the firm for innovative electronics too. The iPhone 5S is a good example. It is proving a hit among business people around the world, and it’s not hard to see why. There are a wide range of enterprise resources on the device and it even features a fingerprint scanner located beneath the home key to provide added security.

Meanwhile, the App Store has thousands of applications designed to make work-related tasks easier and the firm’s own fleet of business software is now available for free. With its aluminium housing, the product also has a sleek look and feel that makes it ideal for business environments.

Samsung Galaxy S5

Another handset that’s well worth considering is the Samsung Galaxy S5. This device has a top-quality screen. At 5.1 inches, it is arguably the best ever made for a smartphone and it even has a built-in sensor so that it can adjust the display for better viewing in direct sunlight. It can also alter its colours based on the lighting in a room.

The phone benefits from a good camera too. As well as shooting at 16 megapixels, it has live HDR, which gives you a preview of what your photos will look like before you take them. Like the iPhone 5S, it has a fingerprint sensor embedded in the home button, meaning you don’t have to enter a passcode to unlock it.

Impressively,  the device is also water resistant under a standard called IP67, which means it can survive for up to 30 minutes under a metre of water. This doesn’t mean you should take the handset into the swimming pool or shower with you, but it should provide you with added peace of mind that if you accidentally drop the device into the bath, a puddle or a drink, you won’t have to order a replacement.

HTC One M8

The HTC One M8 is a great handset too. This device is the perfect marriage of functionality and stylish design. Its metal body gives it a satisfying weight and an attractive, premium appearance. This is the sort of phone that’s bound to impress in the boardroom. It also benefits from a large, five-inch display, a quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. In addition, it is HTCpro certified, meaning it has additional encryption and management tools.  It’s also worth noting that the Android KitKat operating system allows for a considerable degree of customisation.

When you’ve decided which handset is right for you, it’s time to find a business mobile provider. Firms such as Chess offer a host of options and may have the ideal package for you.

Yoav Farbey

Contributing writer to the Startup Magazine.