Go Go Gadget…

With EE’s offer of a free-but-for-the-price-of-a-text-message Power Bar for every customer, we thought we’d take a look at some of the other useful gadgets for business mobile users – because running out of battery half-way through a day of out-of-office meetings is no longer your biggest problem.

“The overhead storage compartments are full…”

One of the advantages of some of the Android phones over iPhones has always been the ability to use a microSD for extra storage space, but a number of Androids seem to be doing away with this feature.

So what do you do when you love a particular phone, but know you’ll need more storage? Use a flash drive!

If it’s so simple you’re probably wondering why more people don’t do it. Some phones have the drivers already installed (I tried plugging a flash drive into my S4 Mini, but it did not immediately recognise it), but many phones will require that you do something called ‘rooting’ where you download an app which will allow your operating system to recognise the drive. There are a number of apps that you can use, and it will depend on your phone and your OS as to which one you choose. However, you may want to check your warranty, as rooting your phone can invalidate it.

“The pilot will be dimming the lights…”

Many people have to travel for business, which means that their phones become portable offices whilst they are away from their desk. Now, you’ve added the extra storage capacity, which means that you can carry your flash drive full of music with you at all times, but you don’t want to be that kid at the back of the bus.

If you like to listen to music to help you sleep whilst travelling – or even when you’re at home – then there are a couple of options available. You can get pillows which have mini speakers inside; either plug your phone in via the headphone socket, or connect by Bluetooth. Or use something like SleepPhones. These look like soft headbands that are much more comfortable than earbuds or headphones when you’re sleeping. They, like the pillows, can be used with or without wires, and would be ideal for plane or train journeys.

“Please ensure that your seat backs and tray tables are in their upright, and locked position…”

There are times when using your phone is not always appropriate or possible, in which case you may want something to keep you occupied – especially if you rely on your Kindle app for reading. We would recommend the Belkin LEGO Builder Case (available for iPhone 5/5S) – ideal for the nervous flyer!

We'd love to hear what your favourite mobile gadgets are, so leave a comment below. And if you want the best mobile deal for your business, get in touch with us at Fivebars Mobile.