Small Businesses Baffled by Complex Mobile Communications Packages

- A quarter of SME managers responsible for mobile communications do not understand enough about mobile technology to make an effective decision about their price plan

- Almost a third say their company has not reviewed its mobile costs for two or more years

- A fifth think the pricing structure of mobile plans is difficult to understand

- 36% feel they currently pay too much for mobile services

A third of SME managers responsible for mobile communications have not reviewed their companyís mobile costs for two or more years, despite 36% thinking they pay too much for mobile services, according to research from T-Mobile and YouGov. The survey found that a quarter are struggling to make effective mobile communications purchasing decisions because they donít understand enough about mobile technology, and a fifth find price plans too complex to understand.

Lack of flexibility, international call costs, poor customer service and lack of tailor-made plans were all cited as frustrations with their current mobile communications packages.

Technology ëmust havesí
The survey also asked what mobile technology SME managers consider to be a ëmust haveí in order to stay ahead of the competition. Surprisingly, Internet-enabled mobile phones were the top choice (24%), followed by virtual private networks (22%) and Wi-Fi Hotspots (21%), whilst BlackBerrys and satellite navigation were considered the joint fourth ëmust haveí by 20% of those surveyed.

Flexible working
Although two thirds of the 835 respondents surveyed stated that they offer their staff flexible working, 62% said they would be more likely to use Wi-Fi HotSpots if they were included in their overall price plans. This is despite the fact that Hotspots can help improve staff productivity on the move, and they are considered the third highest ëmust haveí for staying ahead of the competition.

ìFlexibility and the ability to handle customer enquiries quickly and efficiently is critical to success for SMEs,î says Martin Webb, Entrepreneur and Presenter of Channel 4ís Risking It All. ìI know from my own experience that having email and internet access on the move is a great way to address this and compete with the big guys. Mobile communications can have such a positive impact on a growing business, and shouldnít be neglected - particularly when there are costs involved. SMEs should make sure they take full advantage of the mobile technology that is out there, and work closely with their network operator to ensure that their plan is easy to understand, cost-effective and tailored to their business.î

ìAs with all costs that businesses face, mobile communications plans should be reviewed on a regular basis,î says Derek Williamson, Head of Business Marketing,

T-Mobile UK. ìHowever, as with many decisions relating to technology, it can seem a daunting process and is often delayed or even ignored despite the impact it can have on a businessí bottom line.

ìMany mobile tariffs can appear complex and confusing, however T-Mobile is taking the lead in ensuring that our price plans are simple, fairly priced and tailored to each businessí specific needs,î continues Williamson. ìOur Business 1-Plan calculator clearly demonstrates how much the tariff can save companies based on their current voice, text, data and HotSpot usage and we challenge SMEs to take a fresh look at their mobile price plans to ensure they really are getting the best plan for their business.î

The T-Mobile Business 1-Plan calculator can be found at: