Mobile gadgets

Essential devices for your small business

Mobility and the Internet have been pretty much a mantra for ages now. The mobile phone companies have been pushing first GSM connections (slow internet), then 3G (fast internet) and now some even whizzier technologies: the next generation is called HSDPA which doesn’t trip off the tongue, but will bring broadband speeds to your mobile phone.

These developments may leave you with the sneaking suspicion that these ideas will make lots of money for the mobile telephone providers but not necessarily your business.

The good news is, that’s not the case. Consider the experience of Donna Joyce, analyst at utility specialist Smith Bellerby. This company, which employs five people, decided to deploy mobile working and the quality of her life increased measurably: “I have a child who is under the age of three. During the day, I can look after him and at night, I can work by picking up my emails and responding to any queries,” she explains. “I really appreciate this level of flexibility that mobile technology has given me as it has made a massive difference to my ability to do my job as a working mum.”

Her boss, MD Steve Bellerby, sees other benefits. “Feedback to our flexible working policy has been incredibly positive and as a small business, we believe that it is actively helping us to both recruit and retain key skills.”

Small companies and one-man-bands actually benefit most from mobile tools. If all major decisions come down to you, it makes sense to be available as often as possible: on the train, for example. To enjoy these benefits, you need the right tools for the job: a mobile phone and perhaps a laptop.

Top of page

Your mobile phone

If you’ve picked up a new mobile phone in the past 18 months, but only used it to make phone calls, then it’s time to re-investigate what it can do. Mobile communication is not a luxury; it’s a business necessity which may critically improve your competitiveness. According to research house Radicati, “Workers will average nearly 40% of their time away from the desk”, so it pays to be connected. If you’re thinking of getting a new phone, or upgrading, ask for these facilities:

•	Email: in surveys, businesspeople name email on the move as their top priority. The ability to make decisions and remain responsive to clients is what email does perfectly.
•	Web browsing: Phones with 3G (fast internet) give you a fully-functional web browser. Find maps to a client’s office, do some research while you travel there, or find a nice local restaurant for lunch.
•	Contacts, all in sync: All mobile phones have contact lists. But if your phone runs Windows Mobile, your contacts, calendar, tasks and appointments will all automatically be kept in sync with your desktop copy of Microsoft Outlook. You’ll never lose any contact information, and you’ll never have to enter it twice.
•	Compatibility with Microsoft applications: You probably won’t write a 200-page tender document on your mobile phone. But you will want to make edits, tweak some figures or rehearse a presentation. Pick up a phone with built-in mobile versions of Microsoft Office Word, Microsoft Office Excel and Microsoft Office PowerPoint.

Indeed, from managing your expenses to getting by in a foreign country, there are over 18,000 independently-produced software titles for Windows Mobile phones. Your mobile could prove to be “your whole business in your pocket”.

Today’s phones also reduce your hardware expenditure. Many phones, for example, house high-quality digital cameras; and you can now even buy software which will turn your phone into a fully-functional satellite navigation system. Ever more power and function is being packed into business phones each year.

Top of page

Your laptop computer

For those occasions when you need a fully-fledged computer on the road, you’ll be pleased to know that laptops too are no longer a luxury purchase (at “designer” prices…) and are now available to every business professional.

They come in all shapes and sizes too- “handheld” PC’s give you desktop performance in the size of a largish paperback book. Larger “Desktop replacement” laptops are designed to be as good as your desktop PC (even with widescreen displays and lots of USB ports for connecting other devices) - simply unplug it and take it with you. Indeed, provided you carefully back it up, you might not need a separate desktop model at all. Basic laptops can now be found for barely £400.

Laptops are particularly handy for working on documents. If you’re staying in a hotel or killing two hours in an airport lounge, it’s nice to be able to work on a full screen and use the same software you’re used to at your desk. Hotels and coffee bars are also routinely offering wireless internet access and easy connectivity, so you shouldn’t find it hard to hook up to the outside world. It’s great to know that you’ll never again have to say “it’ll have to wait until I’m back in the office”. Here are some features to ask for when buying a laptop for use on the road:

•	Windows Vista: Windows Vista includes security tools specifically for laptops. A special drive encryption technique called “Bitlocker” means that if you lose your laptop, nobody else will be able to read its contents.
•	A docking station: Instead of unplugging lots of cables every time you leave the office, a docking station manages your wires for you. You can be off and out with a single flick of a mechanical switch.
•	Wireless Connection: nowhere is wireless connectivity more handy than with a laptop. Many public areas (from coffee bars to airports) now have wireless internet, which means your laptop can connect to the world from almost anywhere.
•	Microsoft Office Outlook 2007: the latest version of Microsoft’s email software will keep your laptop, desktop PC, network and mobile seamlessly in sync. That means that even when you’re away from the office, you’ll never feel ill-equipped or under-prepared for whatever your next meeting throws at you.

Those with experience believe it’s worth spending money on the extra connectivity that laptops and mobile phones offer. Above all, with equipment designed to work seamlessly together, each investment you make will add extra value, rather than costing proportionately more for limited additional benefit. “Communication is the key to our business, and our ability to respond within minutes to clients has strengthened our working relationships, and given our staff the flexibility they need to work as efficiently as possible,” says Bellerby. “Such are the benefits that we’ve already received, we are very keen to further investigate what mobile technology can deliver to us.”