These days, mobile coverage is everything. Although you may still be wandering around the jobsite asking a client if they can hear you now, you’re also probably using your coverage as a mobile hotspot. It might be the only communication device you have for your contracting business. This means that your mobile service is much more important than it might have been even a few years ago. Here’s how you can evaluate whether you are getting what you need from your mobile provider.

Coverage
The last thing you want is for your mobile coverage to cut out at the office or in most jobsites. This is why coverage is going to be one of the first things you look at. The trouble is that it’s hard to evaluate coverage from the various mobile providers until you’re running on that network. There are points where the signal from one cell tower gets too weak, and your phone isn’t connecting to another one. This creates a coverage dead zone where you might have little or no coverage at all. Figure out where you will be working most often, and make sure that your mobile provider has good coverage there, at least.

Bandwidth and Reception
Coverage primarily relates to where you can use your phone’s service. Reception determines what quality of service you get while you’re there. This might feel like one and the same, but it isn’t. One mobile provider might have thorough coverage in the area but then give you slow network speeds or bad reception. If you can, it might be worth bringing friends or associates with different providers to see who’s got the best ability to stream video at the jobsite. If yours seems to be arriving late to everything, you might need to consider switching.

Plans
Each mobile provider offers a variety of plans, especially for businesses. Once you start a business, you might get options that you wouldn’t have heard about as an individual consumer. Evaluate what you need, like talk, text and data. Keep in mind that you might not need all of these. If you’re never going to talk on the business line, data may be enough. Compare plans online to see which one is going to be best for you. Don’t pick a cheap service just because it costs the least, because it might not give you the features you need. If you will open more than one line, see if you can get any discounts for it.

Other Services
Besides the actual coverage, mobile providers often offer a variety of services you may or may not want. For example, if you’re going to be using your phone as a mobile hotspot to connect your computer or tablet and transmit important documents, added security may be a worthwhile feature. If you’ve got a need to travel outside the country for business, having the ability to do so seamlessly makes life easier. Even having a plan to provide devices like smartphones for your team is an important consideration. Some providers bundle equipment and plans for businesses so that you can save money over buying them separately.

Wi-Fi Hotspots
Beyond using your mobile phone service for communicating with employees and clients, you may need it as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Construction sites aren’t always known as the most connected places, which means that you probably need extra support from your mobile service or other methods. Obviously, using your phone to seamlessly connect a device to the Internet is usually the easiest. If your mobile provider simply can’t get you the level of connection you need, you might need to consider something more formal like a portable Wi-Fi system. These typically require something permanent to connect, like a landline or a cable.

Mobile service is probably going to be one of the most important decisions you’ll make in the daily running of your business. Choosing the right provider makes all the difference. To start building your own contracting business, contact CSLS today!