Business mobile phones are essential for running an organisation in an age where remote working is an expectation rather than a luxury.
Having the ability to answer calls, respond to emails and access essential business tools from anywhere is key to running a business in 2019.
With that in mind, having the right mobile phone deal for your business is crucial to most organisations and getting the best value for money is difficult with so many options available.
Smoke and mirror packages from the carriers make it hard for businesses to feel confident they’re getting the best business mobile deal.
So, what are the options available to UK businesses?
Business mobile phone tariffs are delivered in two key formats; SIM-only and hardware contracts. Here we look at the differences between these two types of business mobile tariffs and offer hints on how to decide which will work best for your own company.
SIM-only deals
With high-end mobile devices costing over a thousand pounds or more, they can often increase your monthly tariff cost significantly if they are part of the deal. A SIM-only is a deal where you get a SIM card from your provider but no device.
This means you have to provide your own mobile phone to use with the SIM card, but the monthly package is significantly cheaper. Typically, you get a ‘bundle’ which covers minutes for calls, texts and data allowances.
These come in a Pay Monthly or a Pay-as-you-Go (PAYG) options and are often offered on a 30-day rolling contract.
Pros of a SIM-only deal:
- Often work out cheaper overall
- Lower monthly bills
- Ultra-flexible rolling contracts (as low as 30 days)
- You can update your phone at any time
- Easy to swap to a new contract & provider
Cons of a SIM-only deal:
- Handsets are pricey & require an upfront cost
- Your phone may be locked into a certain network provider, but unlock codes can often be purchased
Hardware inclusive contract deals
Contract deals are where you’re committed to an agreement with your chosen network for a certain period of time.
Typically, you pay a fixed fee every month for between 24-36 months. In return, you receive a handset, usually with no upfront cost, which can be useful if you want the latest phone and don’t want to release capital to purchase.
Pros of a hardware inclusive contract deals:
- Handset cost is spread over the contract duration
- More manageable costs
- Rewards for sticking with the contract
- Very little if anything to pay upfront
- ‘Free’ phone upgrade deals
Cons of hardware inclusive contract deals:
- Shackled into the contract even if you’re not happy with the service it can be hard to leave
- Exceeding your calls, text or data allowances can mean you’re hit with high overage charges
- Can’t move on to a lower tariff once committed
Every business is different and choosing whether a SIM-only or hardware inclusive contract tariff is right for you can be a complex decision.
What is key though is choosing a deal that brings the best value to your specific business. Expert advice can be very helpful when making these decisions.
At Bluecube, our team will help you through the decision making the process.
We ignore all the sales rhetoric used by network providers to confuse people and get straight to the facts.
This means we will find you a deal that meets your business needs and help you to make an informed business decision.
Posted in: Market Insight. Tagged: Mobile
Can we help?
Contact usIf you have enjoyed reading this article and want to know more about Bluecube, please get in touch. Our friendly team will be happy to answer any queries.
