The question is, as always: does this work for businesses? As with most issues, there are two sides. Here are the pros and cons for using mobile VoIP services for your business.

Pros

Mobility. Using VoIP over a mobile broadband connection means you can use it anywhere. That’s the whole point, really. Instead of having the line set up in your office, like any other regular landline, VoiP using mobile broadband gives you greater flexibility.

Talk without limits. Unless you have an expensive unlimited talk plan, you have limits to your cell phone usage. Since most business conversations happen during peak hours, those minutes can run low quickly. VoIP services typically offer cheap per-minute rates, so you can still talk at a discounted rate all day long.

Software options. There are many options for VoIP over mobile broadband. Skype is just one of them. Many others exist, and they offer rates that compete with one another. That also means you can switch to a different one if you don’t like the service.

Cons

Expensive mobile broadband. Mobile broadband services aren’t cheap. Maybe you can use your cellular data connection, but oftentimes you’ll need a separte mobile broadband plan. Just look at mobile broadband T-Mobile plans. And then remember that they’re among the cheapest.

Unreliable connections. Cellular signal comes in and out depending on your area. But cellular data is even more unreliable. If you’re on a mobile broadband VoIP call and lose 3G data, the call will drop. On a normal cell phone you won’t drop if you leave a 3G area.

Not always on. If you’re using VoIP from a laptop, you need your laptop open, and connected to the network, to take calls. On a mobile phone, you need the connection ready and the app open. That is to say, it’s simply not as easy as cellular.

As with most business issues, there are two sides here. As with most business issues as well, each business will focus more on the positives or negatives as their needs dictate.

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Pros and cons of using VoIP with mobile broadband

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Pros and cons of using VoIP with mobile broadband

When will we go all cellular?

The prospect is enticing, for sure. Instead of having a fixed line in addition to multiple cell phones for the family, everyone can work off an individual cell phone. Since these phones cover long distance calls — almost every carrier offers international long distance plans — there’s a lessening need for a landline. There are really only two issues standing in the way.

Minutes limits

While a long distance call costs no more than a local call, there is still an overall limit to the number of minutes each user gets per month. That necessarily limits long distance talk time. In any age when essentially every landline operator offers a flat rate for unlimited calling, including long distance, the limits that cell phones impose can feel overly restricting.

Still, it wasn’t until cell phones became all the rage that long distance carriers were able to migrate towards flat-rate services. In truth, the introduction of wide-scale VoIP calling, which many cable companies started offering in the early 00s, allowed the long distance industry to make this change. But that was still right around the time cell phones spread far and wide. That is, it wasn’t too long ago when people had to account for their long distance minutes, just as they do for cellular minutes now.

In addition, there are a number of unlimited calling plans from cellular providers. From major national carriers these are typically expensive, costing up to $100 per month. But there are smaller carriers that offer unlimited calling at less than half that. Straight Talk, for instance, offers unlimited talk and text for $45 per month (along with some data allotment). Boost Mobile has a flat $50 unlimited monthly rate. Plans such as these could offer alternatives to landlines.

With the industry changing, we could see the big carriers come down in price for their unlimited plans soon enough. The age of the voice call is coming to an end. Even text messaging is on the relative declien. Consumers are much more wrapped up in data services. With fourth-generation data services being deployed around the country, more and more services will get filtered through them. With that comes a greater possibility of unlimited calling at a cheaper rate. It’s the actual data transfer that companies will profit from.

Battery life

Heavy talkers know this well: talk time drains cellular battery life greatly. A few hours of talk time can eat a significant portion of battery. This means finding a charging port, which isn’t always available. And if you forgot your charger, forget it. Battery life, then, looms large in the migration away from landlines.

Still, this doesn’t seem a huge issue. Landlines are only available in the home, of course, where presumably everyone has a cellular charger. The inconvenience only comes when away from the home, at which time the landline is inaccessible. That is, the battery life problem is only an issue when using the cellular as a cellular, rather than a landline replacement.

Chances are, however, we’ll see battery life improvements in the near future. Smartphones are gaining more and more features, and more features mean more power requirements. Energy efficiency is the key here. What is energy efficiency in this case? It’s basically software changes that enable the phone to use less battery power for the same tasks. It’s easy to see the limits there, though, meaning we should see new battery technology in the near future.

The day of the landline is coming to an end. Its days have been numbered since the widespread usage of cell phones, but now that cell phones are basically a landline’s equivalent on every level, the timeline is accelerated. Once carriers realize that there is little profit left in voice services, we could see a widespread move to flat-rate, unlimited calling. Combined with greater battery energy efficiency, or new battery technology, there will be zero remaining need for landlines. The day is upon us.

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Improved battery life the key to cellular long distance

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Improved battery life the key to cellular long distance

Determine your usage

Don’t sign a contract without putting some careful thought into how much you plan on using your new phone. Usage time – including call, text, and data – is the basis of every calling plan. In short, the more of these things you intend to use each month, the more you pay. Estimating data usage can be murky, especially when trying to interpret how much data is actually included in a megabyte (MB) or gigabyte (GB).

How much is a megabyte?

When it comes to cell phones, 1 MB of data is equal to roughly one of the tasks below:

• Sending or receiving 50 e-mails (without attachments)
• Streaming two minutes of music
• Viewing six web pages
• Posting two photos to your Facebook page
• Watching 30 seconds of video on YouTube

How much is a gigabyte?

One gigabyte, which is about 1,000 MB, roughly equals one of the tasks below:

• Sending or receiving 50,000 e-mails (without attachments)
• Streaming 33 hours of music
• Viewing 5,600 web pages
• Posting 2,000 photos to your Facebook page
• Watching more than eight hours of video on YouTube

As a guide, typical customers use no more than 500 MB of data per month. All the major carriers allow you to track your usage online or on your phone, so before you sign on with a new plan, check on your usage with your current phone. And when in doubt, overestimate. If you try to save some dollars by going with a less expensive plan, you run the risk of getting slapped with some extreme overage fees if you exceed your limit.

Figure out what you need

If multiple people will share your plan, you might want to consider a shared or family plan. These plans allow you to split your monthly airtime allowance among other cell phone lines in the same account. Prepaid plans are also a good choice for anyone looking to keep a close watch on their monthly budget by only paying for an allotted amount of service up front. When you’ve used all of your minutes, you have the opportunity to buy more service.

What is tethering?

Tethering allows your smartphone to act as a modem and create a usable Wi-Fi hotspot for neighboring devices such as your desktop, laptop, or other devices. If you choose to tether, be aware that data usage can add up quickly.

Which provider is best?

Specifically, the major providers of cell phone data networks nationwide include T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon Wireless.

A T-Mobile data plan is a relatively economical option and their customer service routinely ranks higher than AT&T and Sprint. It’s also flexible enough to meet most people’s needs. As far as data goes, T-Mobile offers an unlimited Talk + Text + Web package at $99.99 a month.

Sprint was the first to introduce an unlimited everything plan, similar to T-Mobile’s Talk + Text + Web package. Under Sprint’s Simply Everything plan, this also runs $99.99 per month and includes unlimited anytime voice calls, unlimited messaging, unlimited web access and even unlimited Sprint Direct Connect for phones that offer that feature. Direct Connect is Sprint’s brand name for walkie-talkie connectivity.

Verizon Wireless and AT&T are the two largest cell phone providers in the United States, but neither offers a truly unlimited data plan. With AT&T, you can get 3GB for $30 or 5GB for $50, and with Verizon, you can get 2GB for $30, 5GB for $50 or 10GB for $80. Although with most smartphone users using around 500 MB, these upper ranges are very difficult to meet.

Ultimately, data plan prices are relatively comparable; so choosing the right plan depends on your other needs, including other lines, call clarity, network reach, mobile hotspot ability, and other offers by different providers. Most importantly, do your research before you sign anything!

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Choosing a Data Plan For Your Smartphone

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Choosing a Data Plan For Your Smartphone

jetBlue. While jetBlue currently does not offer onboard Wi-Fi services, it does plan to roll out a satellite-based broadband service in 2012. They haven’t said yet whether it will be free or paid.

Continental Airlines. As with jetBlue, Continental also has plans to offer in-flight Wi-Fi in 2012.

Delta. Frequent travelers get deals on in-flight Wi-Fi with Delta. A monthly pass costs $34.95, and an annual pass costs $399.95. For infrequent travelers, 24 hours of Wi-Fi costs $11.65.

Southwest. While not all Southwest flights are WiFi enabled, those that are offer service for just $5 per flight. That’s a per-device cost, so it’s more economical to connect a device that can act as a Wi-Fi hotspot, thereby enabling other devices to connect. (Example: connecting Android smartphone and creating a hotspot for your laptop.)

United Airlines. United Airlines offers WiFi on only a few flights, which are mainly those between New York and either San Francisco or Los Angeles. Rates do vary depending on flight time, but it can typically cost between $10 and $50 — sorry that it’s not a more helpful range.

Virgin America. Virgin America offers Wi-Fi connections for both laptops and handheld devices. Prices for laptops range between $5 and $15, depending on length of flight. A monthly pass costs $35. Handheld devices cost either $5 for flights under 90 minutes, and $8 for flights over that range.

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Airlines that offer Wi-Fi networks

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Airlines that offer Wi-Fi networks

Free Public WiFi networks

Be wary of the so-called Free Public WiFi networks. These tend to be fake unsecured networks and by connecting to them, you run the risk of having information stolen.

Limited range

So you found a free and secured WiFi network in the airport, but that access is limited to a specific terminal or waiting area. This will become a nightmare if you share a terminal or waiting area with a screaming baby and/or someone with a bad case of gas. Trust me on this one.

You have to be a member of the club

A few airlines offer carte blanche wireless high speed internet access, but unless you’re a frequent First Class flyer or purchase a club membership, chances are you’ll never get to take advantage of this travel perk.

Your best bet

The most convenient and straightforward way to securely connect to the internet – whether in an airport or hotel – is through a mobile broadband device.

All major cell phone providers offer a wireless data service for mobile broadband capable devices including tablets, mobile hotspots, netbooks, and laptop sticks. As long as you can get a signal from your cell phone provider, you can connect to the internet from your laptop, tablet, or mobile device.

Just be sure to get an unlimited data plan, otherwise internet overage charges will burn a hole in your wallet.

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Airport WiFi Not a Reliable Option for Business Travelers

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Airport WiFi Not a Reliable Option for Business Travelers

There are many smartphones available, and so there are tons of choices. Here are a few suggestions when picking the smartphones for your workforce.

Compitability

Not all IT departments are the same. Each runs different hardware and software. Those configurations will mean a lot when setting up smartphones. For instance, if a company doesn’t run Microsoft Exchange, it might not make as much sense to arm the workforce with iPhones, since iPhones work optimally with Microsoft Exchange. Similarly, a small company might not want to invest in a BlackBerry Enterprise Server and then absorb the additional costs associated with one. The foremost consideration in putting smartphones in employees’ hands is the compatibility with the current systems.

Security

When it comes to business, security is a top priority. While hacking attacks aren’t exactly common, they can post a great risk to any business, big or small. Choosing a smartphone platform that provides the greatest level of security should rank highly among a business’s considerations. This might mean spending a great deal more. Using the above example, going with BlackBerry means investing more in a BlackBerry Enterprise Server. But it also means having data encrypted at Research In Motion’s data centers, which means a greater level of security. It’s a tough balancing act, but it is a critical one.

Versatility

While the BlackBerry might be the most secure smartphone, it is also the least versatile. Users will get the basics — email, calendar, and contacts, with easy syncing to computers — but very little more. While a lot of the extras are entertainment-based, many of them can serve a purpose for businesses. A platform such as iPhone will offer users more features for essentially the same price — and perhaps cheaper when considering the cost of BES. Versatility might not be quite as important as security, but it does play a role in the decision.

Price

Of course, businesses can’t just throw money at the issue and declare a solution. They need to make measured decisions on every aspect, including price. Again, the most secure solution might cost a lot, but the less secure and cheaper option can leave businesses more vulnerable. There are monthly fees to consider as well — RIM is notorious for its monthly charge per user for BES usage. The extra price just might not work for some companies, even if the solution is otherwise the best.

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Arming employees with smartphones

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Arming employees with smartphones

For starters, the prepaid cell phone will save over the cost of a basic contract cell phone plan. Services such as T-Mobile and Net10 offer minutes for about 10 cents each. For low-usage callers, this can save heavily over a $40 postpaid monthly calling plan. For heavier callers there are many unlimited plans that can fit the bill. Any way you slice it, you can find cheaper service, with long distance included, with prepaid wireless.

Where do those savings go, then? To the tablet device. Many of these devices are equipped with 3G, or even 4G, radios. That gives them all the capabilities of smartphones, other than voice calls — hence the prepaid phone for that function. Yet at the same time, tablets are now powerful enough to handle many functions that previously required a laptop. Users can create documents, manage communications, and even access their work desktop computers, all from a small device.

An Android tablet, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab, can provide an easy solution. It runs on the Android platform and therefore functions in a manner similar to a smartphone. But at the same time it’s far more portable than a laptop, while providing many of the same functions. In fact, it strips down the laptop experience and takes out all the unnecessary aspects. What’s left can help business users get the most out of their devices.

The total monthly savings will certainly play a role in this decision. Mobile workers who don’t need the phone frequently will save the most, since they can go with a cheap per-minute prepaid wireless plan. Cost savings are also realized from the devices themselves. Even the most expensive Android tablets cost in the $700 range, though one like the Galaxy Tab can be much cheaper than that. All in all, a tablet PC should cost considerably less than a laptop. So those are both up-front and recurring savings.

The switch from laptops and smartphones to tablets and prepaid cell phones might not be an easy one. Workers are used to the versatility of a laptop computer and might be hesitant to use a tablet instead. But these devices are becoming more powerful, and can handle many simple business-related tasks. It is certainly one way to stay on top of all communications, while helping the bottom line.

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Smartphones vs. Tablets for Mobile Workers

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Smartphones vs. Tablets for Mobile Workers

Mobility

Obviously, the No. 1 advantage mobile phones have over stationary phones is that they can go with the user wherever they are. That means fewer voicemails to be checked. It also means easier access to the employee, from clients and bosses. This can help foster a more efficient workplace, where tasks left on voicemail don’t slip through the cracks, and where clients can talk to their representative one-on-one, no matter where he’s currently stationed.

Data On The Go

Mobile solutions are expensive not only because they provide mobility, but also because they provide more services than a landline or VoIP carrier. That is, they provide data and messaging services on top of the standard voice options. This means employees can access information from wherever they are, making for a more flexible work environment.

The BlackBerry has long been considered the best smartphone for businesses. It contains a world-class messaging system, which will keep all mobile employees connected to their email at all times. It also has a high-quality web browser, a big upgrade from older BlackBerry models, and applications that can help a mobile worker do her job more efficiently. There are even apps that allow employees to access their office computers, making mobile life even easier.

Always-On Connection

One of the advantages landlines have over VoIP solutions is connectivity. If power goes out in the office, so goes a VoIP connection. The same goes for the internet connection. Every so often everyone experiences an issue with their internet connection. For VoIP customers, this means problems with the phone lines. Some businesses just can’t afford this type of inconvenience. It can cost them time, and therefore money.

Mobile phone connections are essentially always on. There need be only a few bars of reception for an employee to access basic voice and messaging services. While signal-less areas do pose a problem, there are far fewer of them now than there were even two years ago. Most of America is blanketed with cellular network signal, and with all of the roaming agreements between carriers it’s sometimes tough to find an area that has no service.

The Rub: Price

The three above-mentioned features don’t come for free. The added convenience necessarily means a higher price on those services. On our VoIP comparison you can see plans for as little as $7 per month. Even the most expensive ones are $20 per month. Cell phone plans will cost more than double that — maybe even triple, depending on what services you require. Many cell phone carriers work with businesses to provide custom solutions that help keep costs down. But where you pay $20 for VoIP service, you might end up paying $80 per month for a single employee’s smartphone, and that doesn’t even cover the cost of the smartphone itself.

As with the VoiP vs. landlines debate, the VoIP vs. cell phones debate comes down to each business’s unique needs. For some businesses, the extra cost of mobile phones is a mere investment. They can recoup it with the added work its employees can handle. For others, though, it’s an unnecessary cost that will negatively affect the bottom line. Choose with care.

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What’s Best for Your Business: VoIP or Unlimited Cellular?

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What’s Best for Your Business: VoIP or Unlimited Cellular?

In any case, the telephone has been around for more than one hundred years, and has really changed very little during that time. Traditional telephony first made way for cellular technology, and more recently, for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

When setting up your small business, one of the most important choices you must make is what type of phone service to use. Many people are choosing to go completely cellular, forgoing landlines altogether. That’s fine for personal use. But you probably won’t be taking part in any conference calls at home, and it wouldn’t impress your clients if you couldn’t get a wireless signal. You need to find reliable conference call services so you can be available when your clients need you. When it comes to your business phones, the realistic choices are landlines and VoIP. Which one should you go with?

The first step in making that choice is to understand what VoIP is. Everyone knows how a telephone works. You call the phone company, they turn on the phone line, you plug your phone into the wall, and you can start making calls. Ok, it’s a little more complicated than that, but there’s not need to get into all the technical details. But how does VoIP differ from traditional phone service? Basically, rather than making and accepting calls over traditional phone lines, your calls are transmitted via the Internet. Rather than plugging your phone directly into the wall, you plug it into a VoIp adapter, which is connected to your computer. You still use your phone the way you always have, but your calls are traveling over Internet lines rather than phone lines.

It’s still a bit more technical than that, so to make the best choice for your business needs, it might help to learn some advantages and disadvantages to both landlines and VoIP.

Advantages of landlines

Traditional telephone technology has been around much longer than VoIP. Phone companies have a well established infrastructure, and the resources to quickly correct problems when they arise.

Regular telephones connect directly to phone lines. Because there is no need for electricity, they will work even during a power outage.

According to an independent study, landline phones work 99.9% of the time, making them still the most reliable phones available.

Disadvantages of landlines

Service providers may charge extra for features such as caller ID, call waiting, and call forwarding.

While directory assistance is readily available, most phone companies charge for the service.

Advantages of VoIP

It’s less expensive because the voice signals travel over the Internet. Internet connections are established most often via cable networks. Though less frequently nowadays, Internet connections may also exist via DSL or dialup, both of which use phone lines. The cost for VoIP is lower because the signal conveyance method already exists.

Many VoIP providers offer extra features such as call waiting, caller ID, and call forwarding at no extra charge.

Disadvantages of VoIP

If your Internet connection is down, your phone is down. Not all VoIP services require your computer to be on to make calls, but they do all require that your Internet connection be active. If for any reason you lose your Internet connection, you also lose your ability to make and receive calls.

VoIP service is not as reliable as traditional phone service, dropping more calls on average. This can produce problems that range from general annoyance when you’re chatting with a friend, to being detrimental to your business if it happens during a conference call with your client.

Many VoIP services do not work with the 9-1-1 emergency services network. If the service you choose doesn’t connect directly to this service, it’s a good idea to have another phone as a backup.

Not all VoIP providers offer directory assistance.

Some VoIP services don’t work if the power goes out. This is because while your computer may not have to be on for VoIP to work, your phone must still be connected to your Internet modem, which requires electricity to function.

Whether you choose traditional phone service or go with VoIP will really come down to what your specific needs are, and what features are most important to you and your business.

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Landlines vs. VoIP – Which is better for your business?

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Landlines vs. VoIP – Which is better for your business?

AT&T Ringbacks

If you are an AT&T customer, you know ringback tones as “answer tones.” To setup your answer tones, all you need to do is visit the AT&T wireless Web site. You’ll see a list of available answer tones where you will be able to preview them to see if that’s what you want your callers to hear. Once you have chosen an answer tone you like, click the “Buy” button. Answer tones cost $1.99 each per year, and the service will cost $0.99 per month. At this point, you will be prompted to login to your account. If you do not have an AT&T wireless account, you will have to create one.

Once you have logged in to your account, you will be able to complete your purchase and use the answer back tone. Within the account, you should see the option to “Manage My Answer Tones.” This will allow you to set which answer tones callers will hear. Answer tones can be set for days of the week, each contact, or certain times of the day. Setting up answer tones can also be done through your handset if you have access to MediaNet or Media Mall. Prepaid customers can also get answer tones for an additional $1.00 delivery fee.

T-Mobile Ringbacks

T-Mobile customers know ringback tones as “caller tones.” To setup caller tones, visit the T-Mobile Web site. To access the tones, you’ll need to subscribe to the service for $1.49 per month and $1.99 per tone. Subscribe to the service through your online account. From there, you’ll be able to preview, purchase, and setup caller tones.

To setup caller tones from your device, dial: *TUNE (*8863). Currently, caller tones are not available to prepaid customers.

Verizon Ringbacks

Verizon customers know ringback tones by that name. To setup ringback tones, visit the Verizon Web site. Simply preview a tone, click “buy” and login to your account to complete the purchase. From within your account, you’ll see an option to “Manage Ringback Tones.” From here, you’ll be able to set ringback tones for individual callers, days of the week, and times of the day.

Ringback tones are available for a fee of $1.99 per tone per year and $0.99 per month for both contract and prepaid customers. They can be purchased and managed from your handset by going to: Get It Now > Tunes and Tones > Get New Tones > VZW Tones Deluxe. If you don’t have the VZW Tones Deluxe app on your phone, you can choose the “Get New Application” option after the “Get New Tones” menu. The app will allow you to find, preview, purchase, and set ringbacks.

Sprint Ringbacks

Sprint customers know ringback tones as “call tones.” To make use of this service, you’ll need to visit the Sprint PCS Web site and login to your Sprint account. If you do not have one, you will have to create one. Once in your account, look for the “PCS Vision Services” link. Choose “Content Catalog.” This will allow you to preview the call tones before making a purchase. When you find one you want, purchase it. It will then move to the “My Content Manager” where you will be able to handle assignments to callers based on groups, individuals, or time of day.

To purchase and manage call tones from your phone: Use your phone’s web browser to navigate to the Sprint PCS Vision Web site. Choose: Downloads > Caller Tones. Find the call tone you want and choose “Buy Now.” From here, you can choose assignments following these steps: Click “Add/Remove Numbers.” Then enter the 10 digit phone number to assign the call tone to and repeat as necessary for all numbers you want to hear the call tone.

Ringback and Ringtones

Ringback tones are different from regular ringtones in the sense that ringbacks are offered and hosted by your carrier. This is why there is a monthly or annual charge for the service, and also why you cannot find and download your own ringbacks.

Ringtones can be purchased and downloaded directly from your wireless carrier or from a variety of Web sites. The following Web sites require registration and verify your phone via text message.

• Myxer offers free ringtones to many wireless customers, though you will have to pay for the download if you’re not using an unlimited data plan. Verizon wireless customers receive their tones through a PIX message so they will pay a text messaging fee.
• PhoneZoo is another service very similar to Mxyertones, offering free and custom ringtones to nearly all wireless customers.
• SendMeMobile Ringtones is similar to Myxtones and Phonezoo, except a $9.99/month service charge is billed to your cell phone bill for each month the service is used and carries ringtones for all of the major cellular services including harder to find Sprint ringtones.

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How to Customize Your Ringback Tones

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How to Customize Your Ringback Tones