Unified Communication on a Smartphone: Highlighting the Requirements

The smartphone has proven invaluable in so many ways; first of all, it has mobile telephone functions. Secondly, most current models have a large memory and strong signal transmission capabilities. It has many other standard features such as text and SMS messaging, e-mail and web browsing. Finally, they have social networking programs and serve as key platforms for social media connections.

Smartphones have an undeniable reputation as an inexpensive communications solution platform. This is due to their increased functionality and mobility. Most internet connections are currently made via smartphones rather than desktops. As smartphone functionality increases, so does its potential for integral business communications.

Most companies have realized that smartphones are poised to replace laptops and desktops. They are looking for phones that can deliver value at the most economical rate. Smartphones are obviously the way forward for most unified communication strategies.

Not every smartphone can provide the value required for efficient communications. What really matters when selecting a smartphone for your unified communication?

Requirements for unified communications on smartphones

There is an entirely different set of requirements when selecting a smartphone for your workforce. Businesses have to choose phones that best meet their unique needs. In no particular order, here are the qualities to look out for when making selections:

1. Battery life

For employees who spend a lot of time off-site, battery life is highly essential for productivity maintenance. The performance of your business may be seriously affected by employees going offline. That’s why the battery life of your unified communications smartphones shouldn’t be compromised. This is particularly important for management and other key employees. Battery capacities range from 2500 to 5000mAh.

A good smartphone should support fast wireless charging. Phones with advanced application processors are more energy efficient. Some devices have energy easy to use optimization features. This would enable employees to reduce their battery usage for an increased lifespan. Thus, battery life requirement depends on the amount of dependence on the phone. It also depends on how much time users will need between charges.

2. Security

Phones used for business must be reliably secured. So much sensitive data will be shared amongst teams and there’s a need for protection. There must be built-in security measures to protect against malicious applications. Most devices now scan themselves regularly for inconsistencies that need to be adjusted.

Biometrics authentication is often required for accessing mobile applications. Biometrics is more secure and easier to use than passwords. Different smartphones have varying biometrics capabilities. Fingerprint authentication is most common and then, iris authentication. Facial and voice recognition are not as common. Different smartphones have different sensor capabilities. If security is highly important then, selections must be based on sensor quality.

3. Speaker Quality

A smartphone suitable for unified communications must have decent built-in sound quality. The variation in sound quality amongst phones isn’t always obvious. Best smartphones should have considerable maximum volume. The volumes should be adjustable within an acceptable range. For the best sound experience, select a phone that has an audio jack. The audio jack will allow you to use headphones or earbuds and help improve sound experience.

4. Video Quality

The objective is to be able to collaborate easily with your team via your smartphone from anywhere. Can you video chat on slack with the smartphone? The slack mobile application is available for download and use. Microsoft team’s video conferencing is also possible with mobile applications.

You must consider the suitability of the smartphone for the top video conferencing app. This is in relation to the screen display size and resolution specifications. Video calling quality may not be reflected in one-on-one calls. When it comes to video-calling a group of persons, a wide-angle lens is important. Most times, smartphones with good selfie prowess are efficient for video calling purposes.

5. Memory

Memory, especially the Radom Access Memory RAM is a critical variable in smartphone selection. It affects the performance and user experience of the device. Most unified communications would require the running of multiple apps. Users would also access and share large documents or multimedia files. The low performance will drag and decrease productivity.

If your smartphone is going to replace your laptop then it has to have a comparable RAM. The RAM of most high-end smartphones ranges between 6GB-12GB. This is good enough for running multiple background apps without affecting performance. 4GB is good enough for users with less RAM intensive needs. For the others, the minimum is 6GB for high performance.

6. Screen display size and Resolution

You must consider how the smartphones are going to be used before deciding the screen size. Bigger does not always mean better when it comes to screen display size. Some users prefer small sizes for easy handling. Larger screen sizes enhance image viewing and document reading. Many times, big-screen smartphones come with huge price tags.

Increased screen resolution and screen sizes support the user experience. Screen size ranges of smartphones today are between 5 to 6 inches or more. Smartphones with 5.5 inches or more are often preferable. They allow users to multi-task effectively. Some of them let users use Stylus or special pens for taking notes on-screen. Screen resolution is measured in terms of pixel and an increase in pixel equates higher pixel density and better screen resolution.

7. Connectivity

For teams that rely on high-speed data for downloads and video streaming, connectivity is important. High-speed connectivity supports performance, especially of cloud-based apps. These include Skype, Microsoft team’s video and many others. If connectivity is poor can you video chat on slack?

Smartphone unified communications require phones with fast modems. Most recent phones have fast modems and fast processors. Their connectivity is often comparable and sometimes faster than with laptops over WI-FI networks. Connectivity consideration involves the type of cloud-based apps employees require. The number and sizes of files they would share over the net should determine the kind of phone you need.

Final Thoughts

With the right smartphone, you can have seamless smartphone communications. All the tips Microsoft teams would come handy on your iOS, Android or Windows phones. Workers appreciate mobility and giving them a unified communication via smartphone is in vogue. The only clause is selecting the most suitable device for your team. once your smartphone meets the listed requirement, you can have a well-connected team always.

Originally published at https://nextplane.net on October 2, 2019.