Smartphones and cell phones have become fixtures in the fast-pace business environment as companies begin to view them as mission-critical technology.And when you consider that the worldwide mobile workforce is expected to climb to 1.87 billion workers by 2022, you can appreciate the increasing importance of finding the perfect mobile plan to keep your team productive.T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint are the big four wireless service providers in the U.S. All offer business phone plans for companies of all sizes. You’ll find a wide range of options that include voice, text, and data for startups, small businesses, and medium-sized to large corporations. With so many options, how to you choose the best one for your team?It’s a common question. That’s why PhoneCheck has put together this comprehensive guide to finding the best company phone plans in 2018.Hint: the title of “best” carrier is subjective. No two companies are alike, so there is no one-size-fits-all plan. But with this guide, we can help you find the best plan for your team’s unique needs.Let’s get started:
Phone carriers offer a wide range of plan offerings for startups and small businesses. Most small businesses don’t need more than five lines, and in some cases, even one line might be sufficient. Single-line business plans can be great for contractors, as well.Check out the business plan options available from Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile in 2018:ONE LINEProvider & PackageMinutes/TextDataPriceSprint Unlimited For BusinessUnlimited minutes and text to and from the U.S., Canada, and MexicoUnlimited - but speed might be reduced after user has exceeded 23GB for the monthly billing period$60 per monthAT&T Mobile Share Flex for BusinessUnlimited minutes and unlimited texting to any nation2GB per month - and any unused data is rolled over to the following month$50 per monthAT&T Business Unlimited BasicUnlimited minutes and unlimited texting to any nationUnlimited data - but data speed only goes up to 3Mbps; video streaming at 480p$65 per monthT-Mobile ONE for BusinessUnlimited voice and texting in more than 140 nationsUnlimited data in more than 140 nations - but speed could slow down after user exceeds 50GB for the monthly billing cycle; unlimited mobile hotspot$70 per monthAll of the aforementioned options feature unlimited minutes and texting. While most options offer unlimited data, there could be a noticeable drop in speed if your employees meet the data threshold for the current billing period. Be aware that if your team uses data heavily, you might need to look for a beefier plan to avoid throttling.
Only one of the options, namely the T-Mobile ONE for Business, offers unlimited mobile hotspot features. If your workers are frequently on the road -- say traveling by plane, car, or bus -- the unlimited mobile hotspot could come in handy given that they can use it to access the Internet with their laptops or tablets.
The AT&T Mobile Share Flex for Business is considerably cheaper than the T-Mobile option. But the 2GB data component might be a drawback if your workers need a lot of data. Of course, if data is not a must-have, then you can definitely save quite a bit here.FIVE LINESProvider & PackageMinutes/TextDataPriceSprint Unlimited for BusinessUnlimited talk and text to and from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico; unlimited international text from the U.S. to more than 180 nationsUnlimited data - but speed may be reduced after user exceeds 23GB during the monthly billing period; can stream HD video of as much as 1080p; includes 10GB of mobile hotspot usage$60 per monthAT&T Mobile Share Flex for BusinessUnlimited minutes and unlimited texting to any nation2GB of data and any used data is rolled over to the following month$130 per monthT-Mobile ONE for BusinessUnlimited minutesUnlimited data - but speed might be reduced after user reached 50GB; unlimited mobile hotspot$180 per monthVerizon Business UnlimitedUnlimited minutesUnlimited data - but speed might be reduced after 22 GB has been used during the monthly billing period; 10GB mobile hotspot$225 per monthWith any of these five-line phone plans, you’ll get unlimited minutes for each line. All but the AT&T Mobile Share Flex for Business package offers unlimited data.
The T-Mobile ONE for Business is the most generous on the data front, and only throttles once a line has exceeded 50GB. The other plans could result in speed drops at lower thresholds during the billing period.
With the 2GB data allocated to the AT&T Mobile Share Flex for Business option, any unused data will be rolled over to the following month. If your workers’ data needs are low, this package could be most cost-effective, and you won’t waste data since any unused data will be tacked onto the data tally for the following billing period.
Big businesses need to stay connected with more lines, and luckily, the major carriers all offer options for 10 or 20 lines. Generally, if you need more than 20 lines, you need to commission a specific package for your company with the carrier.10 LINESProvider & PackageMinutes/TextDataPriceAT&T Mobile Share Flex for BusinessUnlimited minutes; unlimited texting to any nation2GB; unused data is rolled over to the following month$230 per monthT-Mobile ONE for BusinessUnlimited calling and texting in 140+ nationsUnlimited data - but speed may be reduced after user exceeds 50GB during the billing cycle; unlimited mobile hotspot$300 per monthVerizon Business UnlimitedUnlimited minutesUnlimited data - but speed might be reduced after user reached 22GB of usage for the billing period; 10GB mobile hotspot$450 per monthAcross the board, you can get unlimited minutes from any carrier. The T-Mobile ONE for Business and Verizon Business Unlimited both feature unlimited data, making them a good choice for data-heavy teams. The AT&T option offers 2GB, and any unused portion during a billing period will be moved to the following billing period, so there’s no waste if your team doesn’t use all of their data one month. It simply moves to next month’s allowances.
Have an international team that needs to communicate via text? The AT&T Mobile Share Flex for Business allows for unlimited texting to any nation whereas the T-Mobile ONE for Business offers texting for 140+ nations. In today’s international business world, it’s common for businesses to have departments stationed in different countries, and it’s vital that everyone stays in touch.20 LINESProvider & PackageMinutes/TextDataPriceT-Mobile Unlimited BusinessUnlimited calling and texting in 140+ nationsUnlimited data in 140+ nations - but speed could drop after 50GB of data has been used during billing cycle; unlimited mobile hotspot$500 per monthAT&T Mobile Share Flex for BusinessUnlimited minutes and unlimited texting to any nation30GB of data - and unused data is rolled over to the following month$510 per monthVerizon Business UnlimitedUnlimited minutesUnlimited data - but speed could be reduced after user consumes 22GB during the billing period; 10GB mobile hotspot$900 per month
If your workforce has heavy data needs -- perhaps virtual conference calls for team meetings -- then T-Mobile Unlimited Business and Verizon Business Unlimited offer unlimited data. With the T-Mobile plan, the speed could drop after the user reached 50GB of data within the billing period, whereas with the Verizon plan, the speed could call after the user uses 22GB during the billing period. While they’re both unlimited, the T-Mobile plan is more forgiving in terms of throttling.The AT&T Mobile Share Flex for Business offers an important benefit. Any unused amount will be rolled over into the following monthly billing cycle. So, if only 10GB of the 30GB is used this month, the data allowance for the following month will be 50GB. This option is a great one if your workers don’t have data-intensive needs, or if their needs flex from month to month.
All of the major carriers on the market offer competitive business plans; it’s just a matter of choosing the right one for your business. Picking the right phone carrier for business can depend on a host of factors, including:
Remote teams may have more specific needs for team phones, such as access to international texting. Check with your IT department to see if there are specific functionality or data usage requirements that you need to fulfill when choosing a plan.Finally, consider whether you’re getting your smartphones from the carrier or from a third party. Many carriers offer bulk deals on phones, but they can be expensive compared to refurbished smartphones or cell phones.Ready to take the plunge and buy a company plan? You’ve seen all the options for business phone plans in 2018, so take some time to consider your business’ needs. The right plan should offer adequate data without excessive throttling, and should fit within your budget. Just remember to get your company phones tested, whether you’re buying refurbished from the carrier or from a third party.
