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	<title>Small Business Tech &#187; mobile</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/category/mobile/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk</link>
	<description>Advice to help you save money, time and be more productive.</description>
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		<title>Tablets: the ultimate business tools</title>
		<link>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/tablets-the-ultimate-business-tools/</link>
		<comments>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/tablets-the-ultimate-business-tools/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:09:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[mobile]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/?p=2030</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the past year, the size of the bag I carry to work has shrunk considerably. In fact, if the weather&#8217;s nice I no longer carry a bag to work at all. Years ago that was unfathomable. Like many businessmen, and startup workers in particular, I brought a considerable amount of work home with me [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In the past year, the size of the bag I carry to work has shrunk considerably. In fact, if the weather&#8217;s nice I no longer carry a bag to work at all. Years ago that was unfathomable. Like many businessmen, and startup workers in particular, I brought a considerable amount of work home with me every night. This included documents, note pads, and especially a laptop computer. It usually left my messenger bag stuffed to the gills. But ever since I picked up an iPad, that&#8217;s all changed.</p>
<p>Using the iPad, which doesn&#8217;t necessarily require a bag of any sort to transport, I was able to eliminate almost all paperwork, consolidate my notes, and eliminate the necessity of my bulky laptop. On rainy days, all I need is a knapsack &#8212; which is super light, since it contains only the iPad. Here&#8217;s how I managed to reduce my business into a 10-inch device.</p>
<h3>Documents</h3>
<p>To be honest, the volume of documents I&#8217;ve carried home has been decreasing for years. As with many businesses, we&#8217;ve used electronic documents for most purposes. Here&#8217;s another honest moment: I hate reading them on a laptop. Call me old-fashioned, but I like holding what I read, not having it rest on my lap. (Well, actually, on a book or pillow on my lap, because that battery burns.) Scrolling can be a pain as well. For this reason, I often opted to carry physical documents home, even if we had digital copies.</p>
<p>Now, though, everything goes digital. Even if we haven&#8217;t scanned a copy, I can still use my iPad to create a digital version. Using an intern helps here, since it involves taking a photo of every page. But it really does pay off. Reading these digital documents and scrolling with the touchscreen is a charm. It doesn&#8217;t make the actual task of rooting through convoluted documents pleasant, but it at least removes the most unpleasant aspects of it.</p>
<p>Best of all, all those documents are available whenever I need them. It has made working from home after hours just a little bit easier. That&#8217;s always appreciated, since no one wants to work at home after hours.</p>
<h3>Notes</h3>
<p>For years, dating back to college, I relied on yellow legal pads to keep my thoughts in order. Whether it was taking notes on documents or just getting my latest idea down on paper, the yellow legal pad was always the writing tablet of choice. But when I stated working, and moving up in the business world, I ran into a problem. I&#8217;d go through so many legal pads in a month that it was hard to keep them organized. Which ones did I need to take home? If I didn&#8217;t take the right one, it meant a wasted evening of work.</p>
<p>Shifting note-taking to the iPad has helped considerably in this area. There are tons of notes applications that feature varying levels of organization. These help me not only keep things in one place, but it also gives them some order. Even in the case of a chaotic note-taking session, I can still use the search function to find the note I&#8217;m seeking. Since they&#8217;re all on the iPad, there&#8217;s no worry about which tablet to take home; there&#8217;s only one choice.</p>
<p>Yet there&#8217;s still something about yellow legal pads that I just can&#8217;t ditch completely. One still sits next to me during work hours, usually to capture spur of the moment ideas. The iPad comes in handy here, too. Instead of keeping them on legal pads, I simply use the built-in camera to scan them, just as I sometimes (have an intern) do with documents.</p>
<h3>Laptop</h3>
<p>At work I have a powerful desktop. It handles my daily tasks with ease. Years ago I used a laptop at my desk, since it was easy to tote around. But it became clear that the desktop was more suitable for the office. It was easy to keep it synced with my laptop, too, because of our intra-office network. But since I got, and got used to, the iPad, I no longer take my laptop home. The iPad&#8217;s all I need.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s little a laptop can do that an iPad cannot. The built-in Safari browser gives users access to the entire internet, excepting sites that run on Flash. (And Flash is a dying technology anyway; already HTML5 is taking its place, and that process will continue until Flash is gone.) Some sites even have apps that work even better. For instance, if I&#8217;m booking <strong><a href="http://www.orbitz.com/" target="_blank">airline tickets</a></strong> through Orbitz, I can use their app to get a mobile-only discount on hotels. So in some cases, using the iPad can provide benefits that the laptop cannot.</p>
<p>Combined with the documents and notes functions, I&#8217;ve seen little reason to bring my laptop home from work with me. It seems like a bulky relic of the past in comparison to the iPad. Best of all, I&#8217;ve yet to run into any serious issues where I need to do something, and only my laptop can save me. It means a much lighter commute to work, and a much easier evening working from home.</p>
<p><em><strong>About the Guest Post Author:</strong> Joe Pawlikowski is the editor of <strong><a href="http://www.prepaidreviews.com">Prepaid Reviews</a>.</strong></em></p>


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		<title>How to Maximize Your Mobile Internet Connection</title>
		<link>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/how-to-maximize-your-mobile-internet-connection/</link>
		<comments>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/how-to-maximize-your-mobile-internet-connection/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:39:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[mobile]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/?p=1978</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With over 85 percent of mobile phones able to access the internet in 2011, and over 70% of the entire population in some countries relying on their mobile phones alone for internet access in some parts of the world, it is becoming more important to start paying more attention to your mobile usage. The cool [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With over 85 percent of mobile phones able to access the internet in 2011, and <span style="text-decoration: underline;">over 70% of the entire population in some countries</span> relying on their mobile phones alone for internet access in some parts of the world, it is becoming more important to start paying more attention to your mobile usage. The cool thing is that a lot of ISPs are now starting to invest top dollars into the mobile section, and most of them are even vouching that mobile phones will soon be a major competitor to popular forms of computers such as the PC and laptop.</p>
<p>Do you have a mobile phone you use to access the internet regularly, or are you planning to purchase a new internet enabled mobile phone? This article will be giving you a few tips to help you maximize your mobile internet connection.</p>
<p><strong>Use Various Browsers</strong></p>
<p>One of the steps you can take to help you enjoy your mobile internet if you spend the most of your time on your mobile phone is to use various browsers. While it might be easy to go for traditional browsers that come with your mobile phone, you will probably get a lot more results by giving independent mobile browsers a trial. These browsers are constantly developed and updated, and as a result they are using advanced technology that is focused on providing the user with computer internet technology without consuming that much bandwidth. One major mobile browser you can use to complement your default mobile browser is the Opera Mini browser.</p>
<p><strong>Tether with your Computer</strong></p>
<p>This particular approach depends on the kind of plan you go for, which is why it is very important for you to start spending quality time whenever you’re looking for the best <strong><a href="http://www.broadbandexpert.com.au/mobile-internet/" target="_blank">mobile internet plans</a></strong> for you.</p>
<p>Another way you can get the best from your mobile internet connection is by tethering your mobile phone with your computer. Aside from this saving you money you would have otherwise used to pay for computer internet connection, it will also ensure you get better internet speeds with your computer.</p>
<p>There are several ways to tether your mobile phone with your computer; you can install the PC suite of your mobile phone and connect via Bluetooth or USB cable, and you can easily get a 3G or 4G internet dongle and insert your SIM card into it whenever you want to access the internet.</p>
<p><strong>Make Use of Special Apps</strong></p>
<p>The final way you can get even better results from your mobile internet is by making use of special apps. The internet and computer technology is constantly evolving, and one great development in the mobile space is the use of apps. With this technology you are able to achieve a lot of great functions independently without having to log on to a browser, or without having to visit several websites. All you need to do is install an app and you’re good to go. You can install an app on your mobile phone for various purposes; it can be for payment, for blogging, for your favorite social media sites, or for anything else.</p>
<p><em><strong>About the Guest Post Author:</strong> Paul loves to write about, and review, mobile phones, and you can learn more by visiting the <strong><a href="http://www.broadbandexpert.com.au/" target="_blank">Broadband Expert</a></strong> site.</em></p>


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		<title>Top Free Android Apps for Network Technicians</title>
		<link>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/top-free-android-apps-for-network-technicians/</link>
		<comments>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/top-free-android-apps-for-network-technicians/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:16:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[mobile]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/?p=1968</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[No matter you are working as a professional, a new bee, a student, a business man, an entrepreneur or a technician you always needs instant access of information anytime and anywhere. Your smart phones are the best solution to have all the information and perform all the tasks right from your phone. There are lot [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>No matter you are working as a professional, a new bee, a student, a business man, an entrepreneur or a technician you always needs instant access of information anytime and anywhere. Your smart phones are the best solution to have all the information and perform all the tasks right from your phone. There are lot of free Android Applications which would be valuable for you if you are a network technician.</p>
<p><strong>- Wifi Analyzer</strong></p>
<p>Wifi Analyzer is the application developed for Android version 1.5 or above with the best user rating of 4.6 out of 5.This is the network application used to improve the network performance caused by the wireless interference disputes. It monitors the Wi-Fi channels in your surroundings and presents a graphic visibility of traffic and noise on each channel. After analyzing the traffic user can easily determine and decide the best channel to use where the least amount of interference will be caused.</p>
<p><strong>- Router Passwords</strong></p>
<p>Comparatively with other Android Applications, Router Passwords is the best application that takes less space on your phone and compatible with the 1.6 to 2.3.3 Android Versions. When you are dealing with diversified range of customers like residential clients you will also need to deal with different bands and models of routers as well. This application will help you to maintain an effective database with default usernames and passwords for any router. In case any customer forgets their username or password, this application will support you to search for the router model easily and you can find the default credentials.</p>
<p><strong>- Cisco Connect Express</strong></p>
<p>Cisco Connect Express is the remote application, through which you can easily manage customer&#8217;s Linksys E-Series, X-Series, or Valet router from your Android phone. Anytime you can access and change the router configuration settings, add new devices and even can reboot your router automatically. Cisco Connect Express is compatible with Android version 2.2 or above, and takes 1.2 MB space on your smart phone. Cisco Connect Express is also compatible with iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch, you can download the application from the App Store.</p>
<p><strong>- Network Discovery</strong></p>
<p>Network Discovery is highly effective application with a user rating of 4.4 out of 5, for a quick and rapid overview of a network, Application provides you the visibility of the computers and other connected devices scan ports and also can view the IP addresses. This application takes 257 KB and is compatible with Android version 1.5 and above.</p>
<p><strong>- Ping &amp; DNS</strong></p>
<p>This network application is helpful to run ping and traceroute right from your smart phone. DNS lookups and reverse lookups are also possible to perform. Ping &amp; DNS can easily combine ping with GPS tracking for the troubleshooting of spread-out networks. It only takes 142 KB space and it can work with Android version 1.5 and above.</p>
<p><strong>This was a Guest Post by:</strong> Nayab – Technical Writer – <strong><a href="http://www.free-games.net/" target="_blank">free online games</a></strong> &#8211; <strong><a href="http://www.free-games.net/play/happy-wheels" target="_blank">happy wheels</a></strong></p>


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		<title>Hosted Desktop – Bring The Office To Your Mobile Device</title>
		<link>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/hosted-desktop-bring-the-office-to-your-mobile-device/</link>
		<comments>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/hosted-desktop-bring-the-office-to-your-mobile-device/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:25:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[mobile]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/?p=1927</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Having a fixed desktop computer in the office is the norm for most people, and up until now, it has always made sense to work that way. But as technology moves on, it’s actually becoming more of a burden. As our working day becomes decentralised, we don’t want all of our data in one fixed [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Having a fixed desktop computer in the office is the norm for most people, and up until now, it has always made sense to work that way. But as technology moves on, it’s actually becoming more of a burden. As our working day becomes decentralised, we don’t want all of our data in one fixed geographic location. The convenience of having all of those documents, contacts, appointments, applications and emails on a desktop machine is now less of a benefit than it was a few years ago, and many companies are looking for a Hosted Desktop reseller to free their data from one location and make it available in the cloud.</p>
<p>The key difference is that we now connect and communicate in an entirely different way. Think of your own smartphone, or your tablet PC at home: you probably benefit from constant connection to the internet, whether it’s via Wi-Fi or a mobile network. You can run an app on your smartphone and access the same data that you access on the web, or on your desktop machine.</p>
<p>This shift in connectivity has enabled us to stay in touch everywhere we go. Internet connections are faster, more reliable and cheaper than ever. Data connections are available on most mobile devices, including the sophisticated smartphones that most of us carry in our pockets. The market for the iPad, and other tablet devices, is booming &#8211; purely because of increased network availability, 3G speeds, streaming media and free apps.</p>
<p>It’s all very well being constantly connected, but when your files are all located on one machine, it’s not very helpful. If you’re working from home in bad weather, or you need to access a file on a client site, you basically have one option: call the office and ask someone else to dig out a copy of the data you need. If you need access to an application that you don’t have on your laptop, you’re really going to be stuck. And if your laptop goes missing, you don’t have the option of using your smartphone to access your files.</p>
<p>With a Hosted Desktop solution, you can actually free your computer from the confines of your office and take it with you wherever you go. That’s because a Hosted Desktop acts in exactly the same way as a normal desktop, but it isn’t actually located on your desktop computer. A Hosted Desktop runs on a remote server, and that means it’s accessible from anywhere. You effectively view an ‘image’ of the desktop through a Viewer application, but everything behaves in exactly the same way. Not only can you run your Hosted Desktop from your computer, you can access a Hosted Desktop from a smartphone too. Gone are the days of carrying a laptop around, or using unencrypted USB memory sticks which can easily slip down the back of the sofa.</p>
<p>Depending on your Hosted Desktop provider, the choice of apps you can use may vary. For example, the Citrix Receiver app is available for desktop computers (Mac, Linux, UNIX and Windows), but you can also install a Citrix receiver app on your Windows Mobile, Blackberry, iOS (which includes the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch) or Android device. Clients are also available for Windows CE and for the Java platform. With Hosted Desktop, you can literally carry your desktop PC in your pocket and access everything you need on the go.</p>
<p><strong>About the Guest post author:</strong></p>
<p>James King is a technical writer for the <a href="http://www.gocloud.co.uk/" target="_blank">Hosted Desktop</a> provider, GoCloud Ltd.</p>


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		<title>Are Mobile Payments the Future?</title>
		<link>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/are-mobile-payments-the-future/</link>
		<comments>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/are-mobile-payments-the-future/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:03:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[mobile]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/?p=1899</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[More people are using their mobile phones to make payments for products and services than ever before, but does this trend signal an end to things like credit cards or will handsets sit alongside older payment methods? Mobile payment is only becoming possible because of technological advances converging with the right kind of software. Google [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>More people are using their mobile phones to make payments for products and services than ever before, but does this trend signal an end to things like <a href="http://www.moneysupermarket.com/credit-cards/" target="_blank">credit cards</a> or will handsets sit alongside older payment methods?</p>
<p>Mobile payment is only becoming possible because of technological advances converging with the right kind of software.</p>
<p>Google is one of the key supporters of mobile payments because it is endowing branded smartphones like the Galaxy S with NFC (Near Field Communication) chips, which allow for non-contact interaction with payment kiosks.</p>
<p>Google Wallet is the associated service from the search giant which enables users to link their mobile to an account from which funds will be drawn when it is used at compatible tills in shops and other outlets.</p>
<p>Of course, to access this, you need both an Android-powered smartphone with an NFC chip in it, a Google Wallet account and access to the kinds of places where you can actually use it.</p>
<p>This approach also requires that you do not mind channelling all of your financial transactions through Google, which is something that privacy campaigners might take issue with if concerns over security and operational transparency are not adequately answered.</p>
<p>Google is not the only company involving itself in the world of mobile payments, but it is certainly one of the largest.</p>
<p>Rival company, Isis takes a slightly different approach to this technology, choosing to offer its services to a multitude of existing payment card companies and financial institutions so that users get a bespoke service, which is not tied down to one company but operates in a neutral space.</p>
<p>Google&#8217;s model is appealing in the short term because it promises to get the network infrastructure out there and put mobile payment capabilities in the hands of the masses.</p>
<p>In exchange it will use advertising and access to personal information to make back its investment, which in the short term is even recognised by Isis as being necessary to kick-start mobile payment on a mainstream level.</p>
<p>However, Google&#8217;s dominance is not assured because as long as there are alternatives that offer a different spin on the service, there will be consumers willing to put their money elsewhere.</p>
<p>At the moment most people will not be parting with their credit cards in favour of a mobile-fuelled payment process.</p>
<p>This is because mobile payments via NFC are currently capped at a very low level, allowing you to pick up a few groceries or perhaps pay for a bus ride, but not shell out for a big screen TV or meal for two.</p>
<p>There is little doubt that mobile payments are here to stay and in the long run our digital wallets may well replace our physical cards and cash.</p>
<p>Once reason NFC can flourish is because it is about more than just exchanging cash; it can be integrated into retail experiences and advertising in many different ways, so will evolve as a subsidised service in the coming years.</p>
<p>The companies behind credit cards, including Visa and American Express, are already backing mobile payment platforms, so these big names are unlikely to disappear as a result of the industry&#8217;s growth.</p>
<p><strong>Note from the Editor:</strong> This is a guest post.</p>


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		<title>4 Ways your Business Can Cut their Mobile Bill</title>
		<link>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/4-ways-your-business-can-cut-their-mobile-bill/</link>
		<comments>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/4-ways-your-business-can-cut-their-mobile-bill/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:16:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[mobile]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/?p=1897</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many businesses have become increasingly dependent on their mobile plans. This becomes an issue when costs rise and services stay the same. Oftentimes, rising costs are associated with added features that do not necessarily fit your business needs. No matter how you look at it, though, there are tremendous savings opportunities for businesses small and [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Many businesses have become increasingly dependent on their mobile plans. This becomes an issue when costs rise and services stay the same. Oftentimes, rising costs are associated with added features that do not necessarily fit your business needs. No matter how you look at it, though, there are tremendous savings opportunities for businesses small and large through the use of free tools as well as limited and sim only plans.</p>
<p>If your current plan is costing thousands per month for a lot of features your business does not use, it may be time to actively seek ways to save money. The added savings may not take much time to acquire, and the additional cash will be essential to good credit and cash flow. Moving forward into 2012 and beyond, if your business has not already considered these options for cutting down on your mobile bill, they are more than worth the look.</p>
<p><strong>Skype</strong></p>
<p>Skype is a great way to communicate and save money at the same time. It works well and it has almost the same reception as a regular phone and you can even connect it to your mobile phone. Skype is a free service for the most part. Users can reach out to other Skype users for free whether it is a video chat, voice call, or text.</p>
<p>Skype is capable of calling outside lines as well at a limited cost. You can contact non-Skype users via their telephone number and will be charged for the amount of time spent talking to them. Despite the costs, it is a relatively much-lower cost option for businesses. Skype is a great tool that can be shared with clients, helping to spread the benefits to others while keeping your own costs down even more.</p>
<p>Signing up is free, easy to do, and the program works fine on most computers. There is nothing to lose giving Skype a trial run for your business.</p>
<p><strong>Google Voice</strong></p>
<p>Google Voice is another free and low cost option for businesses. Users are assigned a free phone number to use, and placing calls to US and Canadian numbers is free. Some charges may apply for other types of international calls, and charges can vary depending on the country. They can still be much cheaper than what most phone companies charge.</p>
<p>You can connect the Google Voice number to your cellphone and get a single phone number to ring everywhere. There is free voicemail, and users can even send text messages for free.</p>
<p><strong>Limited Plans</strong></p>
<p>Too often with cellphone plans- and especially in business- we pay for more than we need. Unlimited data, phone calling, text messages, etc. sounds appealing for a business that does not want to miss out. Looking at most phone bills, however, proves that businesses can operate at the same levels while paying for much smaller plans. Limited plans are offered by almost all of the major cellphone carriers, but they are not advertised that much.</p>
<p>With a quick look at your business’s phone bill and a little research into your carrier’s plan options, you can wind up with massive savings over the long run on your company’s wireless bill.</p>
<p>A limited plan is like any other cell phone plan except that it has limitations that are not present on the more expensive plans. The limited plans usually cost substantially less, but the problem is that if you break any of the rules then the penalty fees can be ridiculously high which means that you may end up paying even more than the cost for the more expensive plans.</p>
<p>On the other hand, these plans can be very effective. They allow businesses to pick and choose what they really need as opposed to just getting a bunch of features that are of no use. Before you pay for one of these plans, assess exactly how many minutes you need, text messaging, international calls, and etc. to make the best choice.</p>
<p><strong>Sim Only Plans</strong></p>
<p>Sim only plans are another excellent alternative to traditional cellphone plans. A sim only plan provides users with a sim card to put into their existing phone. This leads to dramatic savings as plans do not have to include costs to cover the manufacturing of handsets. Users use their existing phones and pay a monthly fee for use of a sim card plan.</p>
<p>This also breaks ties with any long-term commitments, and businesses and users are free to change their plan options from month to month. These types of plans are usually very inexpensive and quite flexible because you have more options and you are not forced to buy a new phone either.</p>
<p>As costs become more of a concern for businesses around the globe, many businesses have already made the change to free tools like Skype and Google Voice. They are certainly worth the consideration, as well as alternative plan options available through phone carriers.</p>
<p><strong>About the guest post author:</strong> Blake Sanders is a writer at UK comparison site <a href="http://www.sim-only.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sim Only</a>, where he specializes in the latest in mobile broadband as well as mobile phone news and information.</p>


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		<title>Why businesses still flock to BlackBerry</title>
		<link>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/why-businesses-still-flock-to-blackberry/</link>
		<comments>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/why-businesses-still-flock-to-blackberry/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:00:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[mobile]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/?p=1895</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The last few years have been tough for the original smartphone. While the iPhone and Android platforms have taken several leaps forward, the BlackBerry has remained mostly stagnant. The out-of-date devices, combined with crippling service outages, have left consumers flocking to the more popular and powerful platforms. Yet there remains hope for the BlackBerry. Not [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The last few years have been tough for the original smartphone. While the iPhone and Android platforms have taken several leaps forward, the BlackBerry has remained mostly stagnant. The out-of-date devices, combined with crippling service outages, have left consumers flocking to the more popular and powerful platforms. Yet there remains hope for the BlackBerry. Not only is Research In Motion creating a new offering that will rival the iPhone and Android devices, but their most recent line of BlackBerry smartphones contain significant improvements. Each is the best smartphone RIM has yet created, and each provides a superior option for business settings.</p>
<h3>No bells and whistles</h3>
<p>The major knock on the BlackBerry, from a consumer standpoint, is its lack of bells and whistles. Take a look at BlackBerry App World compared to the App Store and the Android Market. Once you cut out the ebooks and themes that unnecessarily flood App World, it contains few applications. Further, it contains few of the most popular mobile applications. Developers prefer to create on the Android and iPhone platforms. Since there isn&#8217;t an easy way to create the same apps for BlackBerry, few make the effort.</p>
<p>Yet the business user need not concern herself with bells and whistles such as the latest addictive game or the hottest social app. These are not part and parcel to a businessperson&#8217;s smartphone usage. The focus is on core applications, and as we&#8217;ll see later the BlackBerry does core applications right. For business users, the lack of bells and whistles might even be a feature rather than a bug. It allows them to focus on what matters.</p>
<h3>Fewer distractions</h3>
<p>One side-effect of the BlackBerry&#8217;s lack of applications: fewer distractions. The BlackBerry does contain a number of games and some distracting applications, for sure. Yet these games are not as in-depth and addicting as the most popular games on the iPhone and Android platforms. Again, this has much to do with the difficulty of developing for BlackBerry. But the business user might see this as a boon.</p>
<p>Apps and games serve to distract the user. They&#8217;re something to do while waiting in line or during downtime. Yet, the business user knows that there are more important things to accomplish during those times. Waiting on line provides a perfect opportunity to catch up on email. And downtime? What&#8217;s downtime? The business user focuses on core uses, and needs not the distractions that come with major smartphones. They might be a luxury some can afford, but for the focused business user, the BlackBerry provides exactly what&#8217;s needed.</p>
<h3>Superior core functions</h3>
<p>The BlackBerry&#8217;s core functions put it on the map as the first major smartphone. It&#8217;s because of these features that the platform thrived throughout the 2000s. Even now, as Android and iPhone have risen to the top of the market, the BlackBerry continues to provide equal if not better functions for its core applications. These platforms may have surpassed the BlackBerry in terms of fun, but in terms of usefulness they still have some work to do.</p>
<p>Messaging has always been at the center of the BlackBerry platform, and to this day its email system trumps both iPhone and Android. While the iPhone&#8217;s email system works well enough when run through Microsoft Exchange, it still doesn&#8217;t work as efficiently as the BlackBerry system, which is true push. Even for webmail accounts such as Gmail, the BlackBerry provides instant delivery. BlackBerry also provides a far superior notification system, and those notifications can come in countless forms. With Android there is no real comparison. While its Gmail platform is superior, its other webmail functions fall flat.</p>
<p>The BlackBerry calendar system is nothing revolutionary, but it holds its own as a solid offering. While Google Calendar on Android and iCalendar on the iPhone do their jobs well enough, the BlackBerry does it just as well if not better. In addition, the BlackBerry platform contains a number of applications that overlay the calendar. That is, they use the calendar, while implementing tasks as well, to create a more integrated and full organizational experience. While the calendar system works well on its own, these applications make it even better.</p>
<p>Contact management is another important aspect of business smartphone usage, and the BlackBerry again reigns supreme. The iPhone might come close, but with the new features of the BlackBerry operating system &#8212; including the ability to add new numbers and emails to existing contacts &#8212; the BlackBerry system is simply more intuitive and easier to navigate. The BlackBerry platform contains contact cards that can store reams of information about contacts, including social media information. This makes it a superior contact management system.</p>
<p>Overall the BlackBerry has its shortcomings. The new hardware, including touchscreens, on the BlackBerry 7 smartphones help mitigate many issues that plagued the platform in the past. Yet it still isn&#8217;t seen as a sexy consumer device. That&#8217;s fine, though. The BlackBerry has its purpose, and business users can take the greatest advantage. Its simplicity and focus on core functions make it the perfect business smartphone.</p>
<p><em><strong>About the Guest Post Author:</strong> Joe Pawlikowski is the editor of <a href="http://www.bbgeeks.com/" target="_blank">BBGeeks</a>, a site dedicated to helping BlackBerry users get the most out of their devices. He contends to this day that the BlackBerry is the <a href="http://us.blackberry.com/smartphones/" target="_blank">best smartphone</a> for business purposes.</em></p>


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		<title>5 iPad Apps for Business Shopping Bargains</title>
		<link>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/5-ipad-apps-for-business-shopping-bargains/</link>
		<comments>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/5-ipad-apps-for-business-shopping-bargains/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:43:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[mobile]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/?p=1894</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Shopping is something we as consumers and business owners know very well. With new technology like the iPhone and iPad available to help with our everyday lives, it makes sense that apps to help us organize our shopping, create lists and make shopping for new stuff more accessible! From menial stationary to everyday shopping and [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Shopping is something we as consumers and business owners know very well. With new technology like the iPhone and iPad available to help with our everyday lives, it makes sense that apps to help us organize our shopping, create lists and make shopping for new stuff more accessible! From menial stationary to everyday shopping and bargain hunting, check out these five iPad apps to make your experience shopping easier.</p>
<p><strong>1. Groupon HD</strong></p>
<p>Groupon is a local shopping app that will help you find the best deals in cities in your country. The application currently catalogues deals in over 500 cities with more being added each month. With Groupon, you can find deals on places to take your clients (though you probably shouldn’t tell them!), venues around the city and even stores that are offering daily discounts on items. You can even purchase your deals directly from within the app and then print out the coupon or take your iPad with you to claim your discounted purchase. This is a must have app for anyone who loves shopping and getting deals while doing so.</p>
<p><strong>2. eBay</strong></p>
<p>eBay is one of the biggest places to find the best deals on the web, so having the eBay app for the iPad can net you some pretty sweet deals. One of the best features that eBay currently implements is their daily deals feature, where they display deals from trusted sellers that you might not look for otherwise. You can find great items marked down up to 75%. The app is a full featured shopping app for the whole site, so you can browse any category, place bids, and purchase directly from your iPad.</p>
<p><strong>3. Amazon Mobile</strong></p>
<p>Second only to eBay as a popular shopping destination, the Amazon mobile app is a must have for any serious Internet shopper. Amazon offers some of the best deals available and similar to eBay, they offer Gold Box specials that change every day. Gold Box specials can be specific to a certain category such as housewares or electronics, but they&#8217;re only available for an hour or two before they change. Thus having this app can make finding deals offered by the Gold Box that much easier. For Amazon Prime users, this app is a must-have, since free two-day shipping and access to free books, music, and movies are all at your fingertips.</p>
<p><strong>4. Newegg</strong></p>
<p>For the tech-savvy among us, having quick access to all the hottest gadgets available means having Newegg on your iPad. Newegg offers great competitive pricing year-round, but their Black Friday and Christmas sales are some of the best you&#8217;ll find on hot gadgets like the newest phones, tablets, and PCs. Even if you&#8217;re not tech-savvy, you can have your colleagues, friends and family mail wish lists to you that you can access directly in the app so you can see what they might like for Christmas or a birthday or as an upgrade for their tiring office equipment? It&#8217;s a great way to shop for new electronic items and the prices IMO usually can&#8217;t be beat.</p>
<p><strong>5. Alice.com App</strong></p>
<p>If you&#8217;ve ever been on a shopping trip and forgot something essential such as paper towels or laundry detergent, then Alice is for you. Alice is an online shopping site that lets you buy your favourite brands and then sends reminders when you might be out. Shipping is always free and if there are any manufacturer coupons hovering around, they&#8217;re applied automatically to your order. This makes Alice one of the premier shopping apps for getting your necessary shopping done, right from your office couch – use this app to pick up all the office essentials!</p>
<p>Of course there are thousands of apps available to help make bargain purchase decisions, but this small handful is certainly the cream of the crop when it comes to mobile shopping.</p>
<p>Do you have any apps that aren&#8217;t listed that you use to make your life simpler when it comes to shopping and finding the best deals for your business?</p>
<p><strong>About The Guest Post Author:</strong></p>
<p>Isaac writes for a small tech company specialising in digital marketing and writes for a number of clients including Aon Hewitt on subjects from social media to <a href="http://www.aon.com/unitedkingdom/fiduciary-management.jsp" target="_blank">fiduciary management</a> and even more obscure subjects, trust me!</p>


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		<title>Using Mobile Video Advertising In Small Businesses</title>
		<link>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/using-mobile-video-advertising-in-small-businesses/</link>
		<comments>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/using-mobile-video-advertising-in-small-businesses/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Nov 2011 07:07:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[mobile]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/?p=1881</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It goes without saying that one of the best ways to get exposure for your small business is through the medium of advertising. There are many different forms advertising can take, from traditional billboard posters, right up to online advertising which is becoming more and more popular by the day. With mobile technology developing in [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It goes without saying that one of the best ways to get exposure for your small business is through the medium of advertising. There are many different forms advertising can take, from traditional billboard posters, right up to online advertising which is becoming more and more popular by the day. With mobile technology developing in front of our very eyes, a new type of advertising is also becoming more prevalent. The use of <a href="http://www.gorillabox.net/video-advertising.php" target="_blank">mobile video advertising</a> is allowing small businesses to reach even more people on a mobile level.</p>
<p>Video advertising itself has been in use for quite some time, and has been doing the rounds on TV for years. More recently, video streaming websites have also clocked on and started to offer advertisements before and throughout their content. Over the past few years, the smartphone market has developed at an alarming rate, and video streaming on mobile phones is now commonplace. From a small business point of view, this offers the perfect opportunity for company advertisement.</p>
<p>When mobile video advertising first became a viable advertising scheme for small businesses, the advert would be restricted to being played before the video. I don’t know about you, but for me this got extremely irritating. Whilst this is still an option for advertisers, developments in the mobile advertising industry have made it possible to embed the advertisements to play during the video or application. It is questionable whether an embedded advert will be as effective as a mandatory one before a video, and as a result websites like YouTube have made it compulsory on a lot of content for the advertisement to play before the video.</p>
<p>Let’s make no qualms about it, mobile video streaming used to be temperamental at best. The introduction of 3G and more recently 4G connectivity means that videos can be streamed on mobile devices just as well as on a home computer. The rise in quality of streaming can only help the clicks a mobile advertising campaign receives. The natural assumption from this could be that more clicks equal more customers which, in theory, should equal more sales.</p>
<p>The majority of smartphones use the Java platform, which should save you a lot of time when developing or planning your advertising campaign as you won’t need contingency plans for different platforms. A lot of people running a small business are unlikely to have the time to develop numerous alternative campaigns, so this will be music to the ears of many.</p>
<p>With e-commerce developing at the rate it is, mobile video advertising makes perfect sense to many companies. Smartphones are possibly the most popular gadgets on the planet at this moment in time, which means that you could be missing out on millions of potential customers every day by not implementing one of these campaigns.</p>
<p><strong>Note from the Editor:</strong> This was a guest post.</p>


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		<title>Why Android tablets are better than the iPad for business</title>
		<link>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/why-android-tablets-are-better-than-the-ipad-for-business/</link>
		<comments>http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/why-android-tablets-are-better-than-the-ipad-for-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:36:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[mobile]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/?p=1877</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When it comes to the tablet market, the iPad is the undisputed king. Even with increasing competition Apple has held onto its dominant market share, around 66 percent at last update. Yet popularity does not equal utility. There are many factors to consider when purchasing a tablet, and even more when the tablet has a [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When it comes to the tablet market, the iPad is the undisputed king. Even with increasing competition Apple has held onto its dominant market share, around 66 percent at last update. Yet popularity does not equal utility. There are many factors to consider when purchasing a tablet, and even more when the tablet has a business purpose. For many reasons, the iPad might not be the right choice for a small business user. Instead, there are many reasons to choose Android.</p>
<h3>Price</h3>
<p>When it comes to pricing, Apple dictates everything. They sell each tier of the iPad for a set price, and it&#8217;s pretty much at the top of the tablet industry for each model. While the iPad does provide some serious power to back its price tag, not everyone needs that kind of power.</p>
<p>The lack of a less powerful model means there are likely better fits, at better price points, on the Android platform. There&#8217;s the Asus Eee Pad, for example. It&#8217;s not only seven inches, but plugs into a dock to create a netbook-like device. That might be a better fit, at a better price, for someone than the iPad.</p>
<h3>Size</h3>
<p>Just as the iPad&#8217;s price is immutable, so is its size. There&#8217;s only that one big model, and while that does have a number of advantages, particularly when dealing with multimedia, it does have its disadvantages. As <a href="http://www.smallbusinesstech.co.uk/is-the-ipad-a-good-travel-companion/" target="_blank">Will wrote in a previous guest post</a>, the iPad&#8217;s size makes it less of a friendly travel companion. That&#8217;s just one disadvantage of the 9-inch size.</p>
<p>Android users have a choice between a larger tablet that&#8217;s closer to the iPad&#8217;s size, or a 7-inch tablet that works better for travel. In fact, 7-inch tablets are simply more versatile devices in general. They&#8217;re easy to transport &#8212; the BlackBerry PlayBook fits in many coat and even jeans pockets &#8212; and they can snap into some daily organizers. They might not provide the best multimedia experience, but for business users that&#8217;s usually not the first concern.</p>
<h3>Customization</h3>
<p>Apple is notoriously controlling of how people can experience their mobile devices. Only approved apps can get installed, and all sorts of different file types are excluded from the platform. There are usually alternatives, but many of those alternatives cost money. Even at a nominal price, why would someone want to pay for something they&#8217;re used to getting for free?</p>
<p>Android is an open source platform, and therefore is much more open with customization possibilities. There all sorts of apps that can help you create a custom layout that makes life easy. You can add a bottom dock, create time-saving widgets, and even install apps not approved in the Android Market. That is, you can turn an Android tablet into the device you imagine, while the iPad has already been imagined or you.</p>
<h3>Software costs</h3>
<p>There&#8217;s a simple rule in marketing: don&#8217;t just sell something, but sell something that requires, or at least suggests, that people buy things to go with it. The iPad is a perfect example of this. Once you buy the device you&#8217;ll want to fill it up with apps. Most of the best apps in the App Store cost at least a couple of dollars. While that might not seem like much, especially compared to the device cost, it does add up over time.</p>
<p>On Android, a far larger portion of apps are available for free. Many of these apps come with free and premium tiers, but the free versions typically provide enough functionality for the casual user. As long as you don&#8217;t mind an advertisement or two popping up, and usually in a non-intrusive manner, you can get plenty of free value out of the Android Market. Again, who wants to pay for something they can get for free?</p>
<h3>In a word: Versatility</h3>
<p>All of the above elements come together to create a more versatile tablet. There&#8217;s versatility in choice and in implementation. The iPad might not be for everyone, but there&#8217;s an Android tablet for anyone. There are hundreds of business uses for a tablet, and those uses are only going to increase with Android&#8217;s in-flux platform. While the iPad might win the popularity contest, it&#8217;s Android that wins in utility.</p>
<p><em>Joe Pawlikowski is the editor of <a href="http://www.andgeeks.com/" target="_blank">AndGeeks</a>, a site that uncovers the hidden gems of the Android world. Instead of the iPad, Joe got the <a href="http://mobile-broadband.t-mobile.com/tablets/galaxy-tab/10-1" target="_blank">Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1</a>.</em></p>


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