3 Ps To Consider When Choosing The Perfect Mobile Device

The Information age added a new necessity to every man’s survival, making the 3 basic human needs 4: food, shelter, clothing and computer. Shutting down power or the Internet is the apocalypse for “digital natives”—the people who live and grew up in this era—like you and me. We have even managed to make computer technology portable and handy through the invention of mobile devices. Now, owning a handheld Internet-capable device is the new norm; everyone needs to have one. But how do you know which one is the right mobile device for you? How do you make sure that you’ll get your money’s worth before you purchase that gadget?

Here are 3 points to think about when picking the best handheld:

Purpose

What do you need the gadget for? Do you need it for work or for personal use? Do you want a multipurpose device? If you’re only looking for something to use for Internet browsing, games, Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other regular consumer apps, any handheld can work for you. These activities don’t require particular hardware specifications and software compliance. However, if you need something for business, it’s a totally different story.

If you’re searching for a perfect mobile to use for work, you have to know if the company allows it first. What are your company’s Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies? Ask your IT team about the list of apps employees can download. If you think that the list doesn’t have the apps you need to do better work, send a request to access the essential tools before downloading them to avoid legal issues.

It’s also crucial to become familiar with the kind of applications your industry generally uses. People from the medical industry like doctors, for instance, need a device that has applications to help them control costs, deliver high-quality and easily accessible patient care, and comply with government and industry regulations. What industry are you in?

Ideally, you should have a separate device for work production and a business phone; but there are handhelds that can offer features for both. Choose whatever works for you.

Price

What’s the budget you’ve set for a mobile? Who’s going to pay for your device? Is it you or your company? If it’s your company, work around their allocated budget. But keep in mind that you have less ownership of the handheld and less freedom to use it if the company will pay for it, unless your employer gives it to you as a reward.

Always keep in mind that a cheaper price doesn’t necessarily mean a better deal; it can also mean weaker specs and shorter shelf life. Make sure you match the price with the features and hardware specifications of the mobile device. The general rule of thumb is that you must favor high quality over low price, because the former will last longer.

Protection

One of the impacts of consumerization is the rapid rise in number of worms, scareware, spyware, and other menaces for both Apple and Android devices. Did you know that 350,000 Android threats were detected last year? According to Trend Micro, there was a six-fold growth in the number of risky applications for Android in 2012. From June through September 2012, these applications went from just 30,000 in number to approximately 175,000. This is predicted to increase even more this year. In addition to that, a Forrester report points out that 40% of small businesses now use Mac devices—and this number is snowballing. The continued popularity of Macs means a larger target for hackers and an increase in the number of Mac threats.

Obviously, whatever mobile you choose, there will be a myriad of threats that will come along with it—it’s just a matter of knowing what device is more susceptible to these risks and has available mobile security effective enough to always keep it safe. It’s best to research the different mobile threats and offered solutions before making a decision.

Cherry-picking the finest mobile for you requires you to match its features, specs, price and available security to your needs and budget. Take your time to learn more about the various mobiles out in the market, so you can make an informed choice and be able to get your money’s worth.