Let’s face it, you are going to buy an iPhone. But you would be wrong to do so – both in terms of keeping down costs, and of getting the right tool for the job of starting, maintaining and running a business. You need a phone that can help you work on the move, but also need something that will allow you to work across multiple devices, and to secure your data. Entrepreneur or Businessman, you need a BlackBerry or a Windows Phone.
But you will buy an iPhone.
Let’s weigh their pros and cons and hopefully guide you towards making a good first business decision.
iPHONE
‘If it’s not an iPhone, it’s not an iPhone’, says the irritating advert. And, well, the man’s not wrong. Apple’s smartphones remain unsurpassed in terms of build quality. Unsurpassed, but not out on their own. High-end Androids, and virtually all of Microsoft’s Windows Phones can match the iPhone’s build quality, and most don’t require a case to protect all that precious aluminium.
Meanwhile Apple iPhone performance is pretty great, but not noticeably better than the best Android- and Windows Phones. IPhones build quality are nice and so is their display none which matters especially for your business.
Pros
- Build quality.
- Great Performance.
- Class or high end representation.
Cons:
- What does matter is that if it isn’t an iPhone accessory, or iPhone software, it won’t work on your iPhone.
- You can’t expand the storage or use a USB adaptor.
- Don’t even think about fleet management or remote data lock down.
All of this for around twice what you would pay for the equivalent spec on Android or Windows Phone. Get an iPhone only if you must have an iPhone don’t use your business as an excuse.
ANDROIDS
Should you, then, plump for an Android? Quite possibly, but this is not without problems of its own.
On the plus side, the best Androids are every bit as good as the iPhone in all respects. Phones such as the LG G4 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 offer much better displays, expandable storage, and compatibility with all USB powered peripherals. And because it is Android, your device will be customisable, and compatible with Google Docs, as well as all the other Google tools you use such as Analytics, or Google Drive. This gives you access to all you’re your connections and allows you free usage of the thousands of applications developed by third parties to run your business wherever you are.
Pros:
- Free access to thousands of applications to aid your business.
- Expandable storage.
- Compatibility with all USB powered peripherals.
- Compatible with all Google tools.
Cons:
Well, not all Androids are made equal. And although the cheaper ones are, well, cheap, they may not be fit for purpose. Then there is the potential security risk inherent in a more open system. And, finally, like the iPhone Android is not really made for business, so you can forget about remotely managing a colleague’s phone.
BLACKBERRY
So then, there is always the BlackBerry. Contrary to popular belief the old BlackBerry is still alive and kicking out new phones. And the two most recent ones – the BlackBerry Classic and BlackBerry Passport are really good for a BlackBerry. BlackBerry phones are good only for business:
Pros:
- Hardware keyboards.
- Enterprise level security and fleet management.
- Spreadsheets
Cons:
Horrible battery life. Get a mobile power bank.
Windows Phone
Which brings us to the unloved and much aligned Windows Phone. Unloved, but possibly perfect for small business – especially if you use Windows 8 or the recent10, Office 365, Skype, and so on. Windows Phone is like a BlackBerry for the future.
Pros:
- Windows 10 for mobile offers good compatibility with other Microsoft software.
- Great security features.
- The ability for a system admin to look after a fleet from anywhere.
Cons:
- It lacks the app support of Android or iPhone, but still has support for all the big apps.
- The media story isn’t much to write home about.
- The phones themselves are far from sexy. But they work, well.
In summary you may not want to hear this, but a Windows Phone may be just what you need but you may still go ahead and just get an iPhone.
