In this multi part article, we look at several smartphones and mobile carriers, and try to extract the best overall values for small business owners and users. We rate the phones according to several business criteria – including business productivity (email, calendar and contacts), applications, mobile network, cost, and fun factor.
First up, the popular iPhone 3GS from Apple and AT&T.
The iPhone 3GS quickly and seamlessly connects via push mail to your Microsoft Exchange server or Google Apps mail and calendar. This is one of the easiest set ups we have worked with, and your items will sync and you will be sending and receiving email literally within minutes of getting the phone out of the box. 5/5.
Applications on the iPhone 3GS are one of the main marketing points for Apple. At this point there are over 200,000 apps for the iPhone, and while many aren’t useful to a business person, there are literally thousands that are inexpensive and very useful. Some of these include Dragon Dictation, which is free and allows you to dictate emails or text messages with your voice, Box.NET, a popular cloud file storage application, Google Apps, which links to your Google account, as well as apps for online banking, driving directions, and Quickbooks Online. One of my personal favorites is the LogMeIn Ignition, an app which lets me control computers remotely through the iPhone. Best of all, there are many ways to search and find the correct app for your needs. 5/5.
Mobile coverage is one area where AT&T needed improvement over the last year, ironically because of the popularity of the iPhone. In the recent past, AT&T users (not just iPhone users, by the way), suffered from frequent dropped calls, lag time in downloading email, and trouble viewing web pages when not connected with Wifi. It seems so many people were buying iPhones that ATA&T did not expand their network fast enough. Anecdotally, AT&T has made great strides in the last few months, but here are two conflicting articles from May, in the first, AT&T claims to have made significant progress:
And in the second, users claim otherwise.
For now, though soon to change since version 4 was recently announced, the iPhone is only available through AT&T in the United States. 3/5.
Cost is on everyone’s mind these days, but it is particularly a factor for small business. The iPhone is not the most expensive option, but it certainly isn’t the least expensive option either. Whether the company foots the bill for employee’s phones, or the employee has the responsibility on their own, the costs add up quick. The phone itself costs $200-$300 depending on the model, a typical phone service plan goes for between $40 and $60 per month, and the unlimited data plan (a necessity to get all the usefulness out of the smartphone) is an additional $30 per month. Apps typically are free or cost less than $5 each, though some business apps are between $30 and $200. Finally, do not forget to add accessories such as car chargers, extra data cables, protection plans, cases and screen protectors, and hands free/Bluetooth devices (a necessity in several states that have laws regarding phone use while driving). Overall there is a significant upfront investment and higher than average ongoing costs. 3/5.
Fun factor is an unscientific category that takes into account not only how fun the device itself is, but also how cool it may be to your colleagues and importantly, clients and business contacts. The iPhone is extremely fun and has a great deal of street cred, it is arguably Apple’s most popular and famous product. It combines all the entertainment of an iPod (music, movies, television shows) with the game play-ability of a Gameboy. There are thousands of fun, inexpensive games for the iPhone, there are e-books, plus the entire web is at your fingertips. There’s no way you will be bored in between business meetings or during your train commute. 5/5.
Overall, the iPhone 3GS rates 21 out of a possible 25 points.
