5 Tips to Smarten Your Phone Purchase

(Family Features) For work or play, cell phones are an integral component of today’s culture. Research shows that most people use their personal cell phones for work as well, so there are a wide range of factors to consider when choosing the phone to best fit your needs.

Making the right selection for your business-use phone can not only prevent needless frustration, it can also save you (and your employer) significant time and money. A single device failure can have a big impact on a company’s productivity and bottom line, according to a study by Kyocera Communications.

These losses can be measured in the “Cripple Ripple Effect,” which describes how expenses go far beyond replacement costs when a smartphone fails. Time is money, and each single device failure can cost an organization as much as 170 to 200 minutes in lost mobile-worker productivity and internal support.

Consider this advice to help guide your next business phone purchase:

• Consult with your employer. Before buying a phone that will be used at least part of the time for business use, do some research at the office. Confirm your company’s network will allow you to perform the operations you desire, such as checking email remotely. Also investigate whether there are any corporate discounts to help trim the cost of the phone and even your monthly service charges.

• Consider physical attributes. The nature of your work may help guide you in choosing the best phone to get the job done. If your job relies on documents and forms, a phone with a sizable screen and excellent resolution is a must. If you work outdoors, you need a sturdy phone that can withstand some tough conditions, including a rain storm or a drop in a puddle. The introduction of waterproof, drop-proof smartphones, such as Kyocera’s Hydro WAVE, is helping many companies reduce the overall total cost of ownership and ensure the productivity of their workforces.

• Explore other features. Knowing how you will use your phone will help you determine other important features on the job. For example, an extra-loud speaker and one-touch push-to-talk make communicating easy with the rugged Kyocera DuraForce smartphone – built for even the toughest jobs. If you spend a good portion of the day away from power, a long battery life is also a must.

• Anticipate memory needs. A salesperson can help you understand how much memory you need to accomplish your everyday tasks. Some smartphones offer a memory card slot that lets you expand the phone’s memory and easily transfer data between devices, significantly expanding your phone’s data capabilities.

• Know your environment. Ensure the features of the phone can be protected from harsh work environments to avoid costly replacements due to dropping, water or dust exposure and more. A rugged smartphone also is less likely to sustain damage through everyday wear and tear, so it may be a smart investment even for a milder work environment, especially if you have an active personal life. Another factor worth considering, according to the Kyocera study: when used for work, non-rugged smartphones fail three times more often than rugged devices, which can further hamper productivity.

For more guidance on choosing the right phone for your needs, visit kyoceramobile.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images (man on cell phone)