Windows 8 – Is it the best smartphone yet?

Apple, Android and BlackBerry have had the smartphone market pretty much to themselves in recent years but with the launch of Windows 8 that could all be about to change.  Samsung and HTC, both known as Android handset manufacturers, have launched their versions of Window Phone 8 but it’s Nokia that looks set to recapture a share of the mobile market they enjoyed in previous years.

So what’s different about Windows 8?  Well, for the first time Microsoft have deployed the same operating system across PC, tablet, XBox and mobile, which makes for a truly consistent and very intuitive end user experience.

And, as an operating system, I think Microsoft have really got the balance right.  At one end of the scale you have iPhone, which is tightly controlled and very restricted around Apple’s iTunes and Apps Store.  At the other end you have Android, the open source platform that doesn’t have the same security around applications.  Android malware continues to grow, with a staggering 51,447 unique samples detected in the third quarter of 2012. 

Windows 8 sits in the middle ground; they have a well-managed (and certified) apps marketplace that now offers in excess of 100,000 applications, and Windows 8 offers the security we’ve all come to expect from Microsoft.

So for best in class Office, Sharepoint and Exchange integration, free on-board sat nav with Nokia Drive and really great free apps like Nokia City Lens, I genuinely think the Lumia range of smartphones will put Nokia and Windows Phone firmly back on the map.    

For advice on any aspect of your business communications, contact 8020 Ltd on 01387 250008.

Andrew Edgar
Managing Director
8020 Ltd
01387 250008
www.8020ltd.com

Have you signed up lately?

Over the last 15 years I’ve met many businesses to advise them on mobile and fixed communications contracts.  And whilst in the main, I think the telecoms industry is getting its act together, the difference between some provider’s T’s & C’s can be huge and it still surprises me how many sharp practices are around when it comes to contracts.Here are some areas to look out for to avoid falling foul of penalising contracts:

• Probably sounds like stating the obvious, but please ensure all salesman’s promises are confirmed in writing.

• Ensure you get a copy of the contract you are signing and never sign a blank contract, allowing the salesman to complete later. 

• Ensure you have a full copy of the terms and conditions associated with your contract and that the duration of the contract is clearly stated.  Be aware of quarterly contracts, 24 payments can easily be misinterpreted as a two year deal, however if it’s a quarterly contract you’ve just signed a six year deal!

• If you’re re-signing your existing contract, say at the halfway point; make sure it’s clear when the new contract will run to.  Some two year mid-term re-sign contracts start at the end of your current contract so you’re actually signing in to a three year deal. 

• Be clear on the conditions that apply to any equipment you are supplied; who has title of it, what happens to it at the end of the minimum contract term.  The same goes for any hardware fund, airtime credits or other incentives that are used to encourage you to sign.

• Minimum spend clauses can only ever benefit one party and it’s not you.  Your supplier should be committed to reducing your costs where possible, not penalising you for not spending enough.

• Automatically Renewable Contracts, whereby you only have a short timeframe at the end of the contract to tell the provider you don’t want to continue are another one to watch out for, although thankfully OFCOM have made a move to completely remove them from the market by December 2012.  If you’re on one now then speak to your provider about it.

And remember the golden rule, you get nothing for nothing and if something looks too good to be true then it usually is.

For advice on any aspect of your business communications, contact 8020 Ltd on 01387 250008.

Andrew Edgar
Managing Director
8020 Ltd
01387 250008
www.8020ltd.com

EU roaming cost’s down, but will your bill be?

Mobile phone roaming charges fell from July 1^st after a European parliament vote.

The cuts are the latest step towards a European commission goal of reducing the gap between domestic and foreign call rates to virtually nothing by 2015.

The cost of making a mobile call in Europe has dropped from about 30p a minute to 24p, while the cost of sending a text dropped to 7p. Overall, the commission say roaming costs have fallen by up to 75% since the campaign began in 2007.

Under the new rules, applicable from July 2012, businesses and consumers travelling in another EU country will pay no more than:

• 29 euro cents (24p) a minute to make a call.

• 8 cents (7p) a minute to receive a call.

• 9 cents (7p) to send a text message.

As well as further reducing the cost of making calls from abroad and receiving calls from home, there will be a cut to the price of "data roaming", when travellers want to download information from the internet.

• 70 cents a megabyte (58p) to download data or browse the internet, charged by the kilobyte used.

As was the case already, network operators will still send warning messages to customers when their bill for internet use approaches €50 (£40).

All networks are now promoting a series of ‘bundled’ deals which in many cases will prove even better value for money.  

We do however strongly recommend you establish what options are best suited to your own typical roaming usage.  

For advice on any aspect of your business communications, contact 8020 Ltd on 01387 250008.

Andrew Edgar

Managing Director

8020 Ltd

01387 250008

www.8020ltd.com

Are You Ready For The Olympics?

Mobile smartphone technology has reached a critical mass over the last few years which means that London 2012 will be the first truly mobile Olympics. We’ll be able to watch the events, tweet about them, share videos over social networks and much more.  There are also apps for iPhone and Android users to keep you up to speed on all the latest events and news.

What does this mean for your business?

It certainly means your business is going to use mobile data in the summer like you’ve probably never used it before.  In the UK, research suggests that more than a quarter (28 per cent) of people plan to keep up with events online - via their laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Our advice is to make sure you’ve factored for this in your mobile tariff.  Exceeding your plan’s mobile data allowance, or worse still, browsing the mobile web with no data plan can be a very expensive experience.

The demand for bandwidth is going to affect fixed broadband services too, particularly during peak times.  Businesses must recognise that this huge demand for online services is likely to cause a significant headache for their IT department.  The official advice for businesses on the London Olympics site is to devise a clear staff policy for watching the Games, and to position TVs around the office as viewing points, rather than having everyone watching on their individual computers.

It’s perhaps a good time to reinforce your HR policy on ‘mobiles phones & driving’. How many people do you see using their mobile phone behind the wheel, it’s not beyond the imagination for someone to be watching Usain Bolt sprinting down the 100 metres whilst they’re driving down the M6!

For advice on any aspect of your business communications, contact 8020 Ltd on 01387 250008.

Andrew Edgar

Managing Director

8020 Ltd

http://www.8020ltd.com

How sweet is Google’s latest update?

Initially released in November 2007, Google’s Android operating system (OS) has grown and evolved over the years into what is now the most globally distributed smartphone OS available, with over 300 million devices shipped.

Yet despite Android being the most prolific mobile OS, the iPhone is still the best selling handset.  This is simply due to the sheer amount of different Android handsets available on the market. 

Google releases the Android OS as “Open Source” software which is free.  Software developers from handset manufacturers then take the code and customise it into their own software release.  We therefore see handsets, from vendors like Samsung or HTC, issued with slightly different versions of Android, with different custom user interfaces, themes, menus, pre-bundled apps etc.  This is what is referred to as fragmentation.  The main problem with fragmentation is the Android eco-system is slow to deliver software updates.

With Android 4 (aka Ice Cream Sandwich), Google hoped to limit the fragmentation somewhat by putting some restrictions on what handset vendors are allowed to change in the OS.  In theory this results in a faster software update to the end user (as well as a more consistent experience across different handsets) but in practice it hasn’t really helped that much.

Without doubt Android 4 is the best release of the Android mobile OS yet in terms of performance and features, and is therefore a desirable update for any Android user.  Many end users are still waiting for their handset vendor to release the version 4 update though.

Maybe Google will get it right with Android 5 (aka Jelly Bean) which is purported to be on its way.  One thing is for sure – without limiting fragmentation of the platform even more, they’re not likely to come anywhere near the consistent user experience currently delivered by Apple’s iOS, Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 or Research In Motion’s Blackberry OS platforms anytime soon.

For advice on any aspect of your business communications, contact 8020 Ltd on 01387 250008.

Andrew Edgar

Managing Director

8020 Ltd

01387 250008

www.8020ltd.com 

118 calling…. Can we have your money please?

At 8020 we analyse telecoms usage and expenditure on a daily basis and it always amazes me how much money businesses spend on Directory Enquiry Services. 

Costs have continued to creep up and up, and as all the TV show disclaimers say “calls from a mobile may be considerably higher”.

The Directory market is very confusing with offers and charges varying across the board. Callers can choose a service which charges by the minute, by the second, for one number or several, and which offer everything from cinema listings to street directions in addition to telephone numbers.

It’s often however, the operators with the biggest or quirkiest TV advertising that win the day, I’m sure you can recall two or three 118 numbers off the top of your head, and they’ve probably got 90% of the market between them, but are they the best value for your business?

We have three key tips for business mobile users:

•      If you have a smartphone forget phoning any 118 numbers, simply hop on the internet at www.192.com and search for the number for free (assuming you have a data bundle of course).

•   Never get put through when they politely ask you if you’d like them to connect you to your requested number.  This can cost a staggering amount per minute for the entire duration of the call.  They text you the number at no extra cost, simply redial using your call plan minutes.

• Get to know your own networks preferred number.  This is the cheapest to use whilst on your mobile. O₂ – 118402, Vodafone – 118881, Orange 118000.

The spiralling costs of directory enquiries began in 2003 when the government opened up the market, ironically to increase competition and reduce costs to businesses and consumers.

For more information and advice on how to reduce your business telecom costs, contact 8020 Ltd on 01387 250008.

Andrew Edgar

Managing Director

8020 Ltd

01387 250008

www.8020ltd.com 

Is free public Wifi really on the horizon?

O2 are building a hotspot network called O2 Wifi. It’s free and you don’t even have to be an O2 customer to use it.  Even if your business mobile’s with another network or you get your home broadband
from someone else, everyone will be able to use it.

O2 Wifi will give you speeds up to ten times faster than a normal mobile connection and when you’re browsing on Wifi you’re not eating up your monthly mobile data allowance.

By the end of the year O2 will have set up thousands of hotspots. And by 2013, they aim to have 14,000 hotspots across the UK – double the number anyone offers now.  This means we’ll be able to use O2 Wifi in shops, cafes and bars. Then train stations, airports, shopping centres, libraries, parks and stadiums.  

O2 has already signed a deal with London's Westminster City Council and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to create Europe's largest free wireless hub in Europe.  

The deal is part of both councils' plans to ensure that visitors to London will be able to make the most out of London's offerings, particularly in a year in which both the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics take place. The costs of providing the Wi-Fi have been covered by O2, and not at the expense of the taxpayer.

So what’s in it for O2? 

Well for a start Wifi can immediately take some of the strain off the operators 3G network resulting in a better service for voice users as well.  Other reasons for doing so could include getting hold of user data that they can sell to venues or advertisers and of course by opening it up to everyone they can start marketing the network to people who aren't already on O2.

For advice on any aspect of your business communications, contact 8020 Ltd on 01387 250008.

Andrew Edgar

Managing Director

8020 Ltd

01387 250008

www.8020ltd.com 

How smart is Nokia’s new phone?

Nokia is making a comeback to the smartphone arena having previously failed to impress consumers with their just-average versions of the smartphone.  Surpassed by RIM, Apple and Android, Nokia needed to shake up production or risk losing their long-standing reputation of making excellent quality, innovative phones. 

Part of their reinvention involved teaming up with Microsoft to form an alliance which would power the new range of Nokia phones through Windows Mobile.  A clever and mutually beneficial partnership most would agree as Nokia are a globally reputed manufacturer and Windows needed to get in on the mobile phone action to curtail the upsurge of its competitors, such as Google Android which is now the world’s leading mobile phone operating software.

So Nokia’s Lumia 800, with its seamless clear black curved glass chassis and large display screen looks and feels like a high end smartphone, with the operating software to match.  Windows Phone 7.5 is slick and easy to use and it’s built for business with embedded Microsoft Office which allows you to read and edit Word, PowerPoint and Excel documents, as well as share them instantly.  Email is good too with Exchange functionality for enterprise customers giving access to calendar, contacts and mail synchronisation on the move.

One of the biggest drivers for smartphones however is the availability and choice of applications, or apps as they’ve become known.  According to Microsoft, there are over 30,000 apps and games in the Windows Phone Marketplace that you can download to your handset. Many of these apps were written pre 7.5, so only a portion of them support the features that the update brings. Microsoft however is encouraging developers to write their code with Windows Phone 7.5 in mind. 

Aside from the smartphone arena, Nokia has successfully penetrated the lower end handset market with a massive proportion of businesses remaining loyal.  Many users rely on their longevity and dependability and fail to be swayed by the latest handset on the go. 

Was it perhaps naive of critics to ever doubt that Nokia could bounce back?  After all, Nokia was the world’s largest manufacturer of mobile phones in 2011.  In the global smartphone rivalry Nokia and Microsoft have some ground to make up behind RIM’s BlackBerry, Apple and Android - but the race could be heating up for 2012.  The Lumia 800 combines the simplicity of a Nokia handset with Microsoft’s powerful operating software making it a real contender in an increasingly competitive market.

For a demo of the Nokia Lumia 800, or for more information on how smartphones could improve your business communications contact 8020ltd on 01387 250008

Andrew Edgar

Managing Director

8020 Ltd

01387 250008

www.8020ltd.com 

Roaming Costs Guide

Question:

I’ve recently heard media reports of huge bill from using Windows mobilesmart-phones abroad. Could you tell me the facts please?

Answer:

The BBC reported a story of a German man who was reported to have been charged £41,000 after downloading a television programme on his phone.

Which? the consumer association is warning that people going abroad with smart-phones can still face huge bills if they connect to the internet. They say that a ten minute video clip and five music tracks could cost as much as £200.

It pays to be very aware of using mobile data whilst roaming on foreign networks. Your UK mobile provider will charge you around £2.50 per MB in and around Europe and around £6.00 per MB across the rest of the world. One megabyte (MB) is the equivalent of one e-mail with a photo attachment.

From the 1^st July there will be a default limit of 50 euros (£45) within the 27 countries of the European Union and Switzerland, however anyone visiting non-EU countries, like Turkey, the US or the Caribbean, will continue to have no limits on their internet usage.

On smart-phones like Windows, iPhone and Blackberry there’s an option to switch off data services while roaming, which means that you are in control of how and when you receive e-mails.

Some network operators also offer data abroad packages but you need to notify them of when you are travelling abroad and how much data you might use to get the best package.

If you’re using a USB dongle with your laptop abroad then be very careful of how much data you’re using. Most of them have a meter you can reset allowing you to measure exactly how much is used so there are no nasty surprises when you return to the UK.

For advice and guidance on any aspect of travelling abroad with your mobile please contact 8020 Ltd on 01387 250008 or download our guide from our website; www.8020ltd.com/roamingguide.pdf

Andrew Edgar

Managing Director

8020 Ltd

01387 250008

www.8020ltd.com