Look who’s talking

Your mobile phone is more than just a device to speak to your colleagues on, to respond to emails and to check your diary.  It’s a device that enables you to talk to your clients directly, to find out more about what your customers want from you.  We’re talking about social media. 

Social media is an extremely powerful tool.  Much like your mobile phone, no longer is it a ‘nice to have’ it’s a 'must have'. Using social media for your business is a vital part of your marketing strategy and by ensuring you have access to your social media accounts through your mobile phone, you can always stay on top of what your customers are saying about you.

Facebook 

This is the best place to start.  Shifting focus from old fashioned press advertising and printed material, to having a Facebook page means that you can directly interact with your customers.  Small businesses should not be ignoring social media.  It enables people to really engage and to share what they think and feel.  Qualitative data rather than quantitive . 

And, by downloading the Facebook app, you can manage your business Facebook page directly from your mobile phone. 

Twitter 

Twitter is an ideal social tool for helping to expand your business. Tweet something of value and you will soon see your Twitter following grow.  Many businesses are now able to track their social media referrals and have seen an increase the more they’re interacting with their customers. 

Download the app today. 

Instagram 

Another great tool is Instagram.  If you’re business is very product focused then this is the ideal social media network to utilise.  Taking images of your products and sharing them, with the relevant hashtags of course, will help to boost your profile.  Making sure you have a phone with a decent camera is essential. 

Setting up an Instagram account takes just a few simple steps but it could really change the way you do business.   

LinkedIn

Having a LinkedIn profile that you can access at your fingertips means you can stay on top of your contacts and start to expand your network.  All that time traveling between meetings and on business trips can be put to good use by making the most of your social media apps. 

Want to see who’s talking about you and what they’re saying? Use your mobile phone to keep on top of your social media activity and to really engage and interact with your audience.  It’s important to make sure you have a phone plan that includes data usage, otherwise you could find yourself with a hefty bill. 

Speak to us at Fivebars Mobile to find out how we can get you a price plan that suits you and your business needs.  

What you need to know about driving and mobile phone use

Across Hampshire, Isle of Wight and the Thames Valley, over the course of one year, police officers have caught almost 16,000 drivers using their mobile phone whilst behind the wheel of car.  The police haven’t made mobile phone use whilst driving illegal for nothing and here's why:

Did you know, you’re four times more likely to crash your car whilst using your mobile phone? 

Did you know, that your reaction time slows by around 50%?

Did you know, that even the sound of your mobile phone ringing in your car is a major distraction? 

Did you know, that texting whilst driving means 35% slower reaction times and poor lane control? 

We could go on.  

As a safety conscious mobile phone business, we at Fivebars Mobile are not only here to get you a good mobile phone deal, we also want you to be safe.  If you get caught using a mobile phone whilst driving then you could receive a £100 fine and three points on your licence. You could also go to court, be disqualified from driving and receive a higher fine. 

It can be all too tempting to use a mobile phone whilst driving, which is why we urge you to think of your safety, and the safety of others.  We offer car kits that meet the legal requirements and will enable you to carry on driving and operating your car safely.  

Top tips

But there are a few ways you can endeavour to be safer on the roads:

• Consider turning your phone on silent so that the noise doesn’t distract you or be tempting to answer
• Stop, where appropriate, to take calls so you’re not distracted whilst driving 
• Put your phone out of reach to avoid temptation 
• Ensure your car is fitted with a hands-free kit in case you do have to take a call 
• If you know someone else is driving try to avoid calling them unless it’s urgent 

You may see yourself as the most careful driver in the world, but the facts don’t lie.  Do all you can to protect yourself and others on the roads.  We understand just how important it is to stay communicated with others, but there is a time and a place.  That email can wait, that text message can wait, your Facebook update can wait too. Think before you answer. 

Top five iPhone apps that will help you get organised

Is there ever a moment in your day when you are without your mobile phone? Probably not.  We use our mobile phones for calling, texting, listening to music, making reservations, shopping and even to help us stay on top of things.  You can often forget that there is a whole world of apps out there; some to entertain us, some to help us find what we’re looking for, and others to help us run our lives. 

At Fivebars Mobile we are big advocates of anything that helps to organise our life better, which is why we have picked the top five iPhone apps that will help you to stay focused and get things done.  Stop procrastinating now ...

Evernote 

No need to carry an old school notebook around with you, Evernote is the perfect way to create notes and ideas.  Whether you need to keep notes on family life and things you need to do to work projects or inspirational thoughts, Evernote lets you keep them in one place. This means that your notes, ideas and even research are all to hand on one clever app. 

Basecamp 

This nifty project management tool enables you to create areas for your projects, to-do lists and even calendars that you can share with others.  Ideal for work as everything is in one place and email notification means you always know what is going on at any given time.  Basecamp will even give you a daily round-up of what has happened in each of your active projects. Check it out! 

Remember the milk 

Great name, huh? This is a task management app that helps you to create lists, share tasks, share with your Google calendar and to ensure you never forget anything, including the milk. 

1Password 

Tired of searching for all your different passwords for every bank account, app or even social media account you have? Then 1Password is for you.  With security being its number one priority, you only need to worry about logging in to this app in order to have all your passwords at your fingertips. 

Earnest 

Want to keep on track with your accounts and records? This clever, free app means that you can track your income and expenses and help you manage your tax better.  Ideal for small businesses, start-ups and the self-employed. 

There are so many different apps out there to choose from, so go find the ones that are right for you.  You’ll be amazed at how much more power that mobile phone has now. 

On the road tips to save your phone battery.

We all know how frustrating it can be when you are out and about and your phone battery is heading towards 0%. We have the best tips to keep your phone battery up and running! 

1. Get your portable charger from Fivebars Mobile: 
A portable charger is self explanatory; a charger with no power leads and allows you to inject your phone with life. These vary in size, weight and capacity depending on the make and model of your handset. 

2. Think logically about using data: 
Do you run a lot of apps on your phone? Keep your apps open? Remember, you can simply close all running apps on your phone (this can be done by, for example, double clicking and swiping the windows up on an iPhone). Ensure that you are connected to a Wi-Fi whenever possible and turn off mobile data when it is not needed. 

3. Preserve energy: 
Keep your phone screen settings on low, turn off Wi-Fi and data wherever possible, reduce time-out sessions on your phone and un-install non-essential applications. 

4. Get the App: 
There are a variety of applications available to keep an eye on what applications are using the most battery and data- this way you can close these applications and preserve your battery. 

Sources: 
http://futurethinking.ee.co.uk/5-on-the-road-power-tips-for-keeping-your-mobile-device-battery-charged-up/

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=battery+life&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=UE_8U4v7Gc6L4gTy5ID4Cw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=2fb3dEA8PaFSHM%253A%3BJpeXI3vGHRLWYM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ftbreak.ae%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2014%252F05%252Ffeathrure.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.lifehack.org%252Farticles%252Ftechnology%252F14-reasons-why-your-iphone-goes-out-battery-quickly.html%3B960%3B540

Is your mobile suddenly using more data than usual?

Is your phone suddenly using a lot more data lately?

The reason could be that your friends at Facebook have changed your streaming settings without asking you and started streaming video content automatically while you scroll!

The result is up to 5 times more data is used than normal. We've already seen some nasty bills come in for some companies especially while on holiday!

So our advice?

We are advising customers to switch it off so it only auto starts if you are connected to wifi.
You can do this in your Facebook settings.

Best regards

Martin Murphy

Fivebars Mobile
For companies with more sense than money! 

Sources: 
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=facebook&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Klb0U_ScOYjT0QWj5oCYBg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAw&biw=1366&bih=667#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=w0VV92Hv1EYiGM%253A%3BGNB6RUWYHrc4uM%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Ffbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net%252Fhphotos-ak-xfp1%252Ft31.0-8%252F1271084_10152203108461729_809245696_o.png%253Fdl%253D1%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.facebook.com%252Ffacebook%3B1024%3B1024

How to protect your mobile phone from theft

If you are one of the thousands people who rely on their mobile phones, then you will know how crucial it can be if you realise your phone has been stolen. Many people use their mobiles for business, to keep in contact with friends/family, to store precious memories and to keep a calender. We have the official list of top tips on how to protect your phone from theft!

1. Keep an eye on your phone- especially on a night out!
We all know how hectic a night out can be, therefore, remember to not leave your phone unattended, or keep your phone in an insecure bag (Such as a bag with no zip or easily accessible). At all times, make sure your phone is in a secure place.

2. Keep an eye on your surroundings.
If you are in a busy place, make sure that your phone is not hanging out of your pocket, or perhaps in your hand. It can be misconceiving how easily your phone can be taken. Ensure that your phone is in a secure place, especially when in over crowded places such as shopping centres.

3. Find out your IMEI number and keep it safe.
Each phone number will have an individual number which can be found on the inside of the handset or on the phone box. Ensure that you keep this number safe, therefore, in the case of your phone being stolen you will be able to report the individual number. No two IMEI numbers are the same.

4. Always have a pass lock on your phone and make sure that you select 'erase data' after a certain amount of attempts.
Pass locks are a very good idea on how to keep the contents of your phone safe and secure. While the reliability of the 'face unlock' has been scrutinised, we strongly believe the most secure pass lock is an alphanumeric number. This will consist of upper and lower case letters as well as numbers. Make sure that your pass lock number is something not too obvious, therefore, in the case that your phone is stolen then it is very unlikely the recipient will be able to unlock your phone.

5. Never leave your phone in your car unattended.
We have all been in the situation when we are popping out of the car for a very short space of time. However, it is also very quick for someone to take your phone from your car when you are not there. Please ensure that your phone is kept out of sight and never keep it in plane sight if you are not in the vehicle.

6. Make sure that you spread your valuables around your person.
Ensure that your valuables are not all kept in the same place. For example, keep your keys in one pocket, your phone in your bag and your keys in another pocket. This will mean that if someone takes your possessions you will not loose all of your valuables.

7. Ensure you property mark your phone with your house number and postcode.
In the event of your phone being stolen, and someone is kind enough to wish to return it to you, they will be able to at least track you down to be able to return it to you. We recommend you write it on a piece of paper and perhaps keep it under your phone case.

8. Lastly, if your phone has been stolen, ensure you report it to your network and the police as soon as possible. The network will be able to cut off the phone so that it will be no use to the person who took your phone.

Following the above tips you should manage to keep your phone secure.

Regards

Millie Hebbard
Customer Service- Fivebars Mobile


Sources:
http://www.canterburytimes.co.uk/tips-protect-mobile-phone-theft/story-22732884-detail/story.html

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mobile+phone+theft&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=aPrtU7bUEcyh7Aaqx4CQAQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=624#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=MnpIoKQ_XCqDzM%253A%3B1UF0v-6ZIzZtUM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.leavedebtbehind.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2011%252F02%252Fidentity-theft.gif%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.leavedebtbehind.com%252Ffrugal-living%252Ftech%252Fidentity-theft-is-your-cell-phone-an-easy-target%252F%3B355%3B382


https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mobile+phone+theft&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=aPrtU7bUEcyh7Aaqx4CQAQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=624#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=5Y9n8E4KTtqDrM%253A%3BUonB5q3PIq4dDM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fblog.phoneslimited.co.uk%252Ffiles%252F2013%252F04%252F119281489_smart_pho_371268c-300x199.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fblog.phoneslimited.co.uk%252Fuk-crime-rate-down-but-mobile-phone-theft-up-according-to-police%252F%3B300%3B199

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mobile+phone+theft&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=aPrtU7bUEcyh7Aaqx4CQAQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=624#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=b6wVprbvwgUP4M%253A%3Bd7h4x_5Sec6J4M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.inthebag.org.uk%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2009%252F01%252Fchart4.gif%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.inthebag.org.uk%252Fabout-bag-theft%252Fwhat-are-hot-products%252F%3B400%3B228

5G coming to London by 2020?

A recent article in the 'Mobile News' by James Pearce really has got us thinking. Boris Johnson last week announced the plans to introduce the "super fast 5G to London by 2020". Johnson is wanting to bring London up to the highest possible connection speed around; faster than the already supersonic 4G!! 

Will this bring Londoners to be able to access information immediately? Of course. Why? Because Boris Johnson wants to introduce this as a key part of the infrastructure plan for London. The UK Government will be giving £5 million in funding over the next 5 years to research this technology, working alongside companies such as Samsung, Huawei and Fujitsu. 

How do we reckon 5G will go down? Well, if all goes to plan, then 5G will most definitely excel London up there with some of the best! 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=5g&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Q_ztU9eNHsap0AWCrYG4BA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=1366&bih=624#q=5g+coming%3F&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=vqZI4yGGIar3aM%253A%3BqiYCFLWF5W752M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fblog.laptopmag.com%252Fwpress%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2013%252F05%252FSamsung5G.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fblog.laptopmag.com%252F5g-coming-2020%3B631%3B298