Smartphones and tablets are becoming a necessary part of today’s security officer patrols. (Oversight’s GuardChecker service offers a Data Collection App for these devices.) While these devices provide tremendous capability, a frequent question is: “What devices and service plans are best?” – The choice isn’t easy!
The Devices:
The first choice you will need to make is the Operating Platform.
There are several, but the dominant platforms are Android and iOS (Apple). According to a September 2013 CNN report, Android had 79% market share and Apple had 14%.
Regardless of your platform choice, there are many device options. From all the advertising you know the competition is intense. There is a wider variety of Android devices, and generally they are less expensive.
Service Plans:
The second choice you will need to make is the Service Plan.
Service Plan competition may be even more intense. The most common approach is to purchase a Service Plan contract from one of the major providers. According to Wikipedia the dominant providers in the US are Verizon at 37%, AT&T at 33%, Sprint at 17%, and T-Mobile at 14%. In addition to size, it is also important to choose a provider that has acceptable service coverage in your area where the device will be used.
NOTE: While you may purchase a no contract or pre-paid device or an even unlocked device, most devices are tied directly to a specific provider. You will still have to negotiate with for service through that Provider.
Service Plans include three different components – Talk, Txt, and Data. Commonly, the major smartphone providers prefer to bundle all three pieces together into a 1 to 3 year contract. While many individual users find this acceptable; it may not be best for all business users. Many providers also offer month to month plans, but the “per month” price is generally more expensive.
Though rarely mentioned by the major providers, it is possible to unbundle the components and go with variable time frames. To do this, these business users will need to determine how much of each component is essential for their smartphone or tablet usage, and then negotiate a better arrangement.
| Data is one possible exception. If Wi-Fi is available at the site, the business may not need to purchase data in the Service Plan. The Guard Checker service works well with Wi-Fi only. |
Comparing devices and service plans is not easy. Since there is more recurring profit in Service Plans, many providers offer devices for a less than the sticker price. (Smartphones tend to be a loss leader.) Therefore, any comparison should be based on total cost of ownership for length of the required contract.
An Alternative:
Today, many Security Officers have their own smartphones and tablets. In some situations it may be best for the Company to negotiate to use an officer’s device. In addition to being an attractive financial arrangement, it may also limit device abuse.
Conclusion:
The Guard Checker service is not dependent upon where a company gets their devices or plan. In fact we would be happy to have someone else solve that complicated issue. But if you are really interested in comparing costs, we’ll be happy to discuss lower priced options.
