Which plan is right for you? We'll give you an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of current tariffs for tradespeople! (Photo: © bizoon/123RF.com)
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July 1, 2021
Crafts 4.0: Prices for smartphone plans have dropped significantly in recent years and include significantly more included services. At the same time, prepaid annual packages are becoming increasingly popular, with data allowances that no longer expire at the end of the month.
But what are the advantages and disadvantages of current tariffs for tradespeople? Mobile phone calls and internet access are becoming increasingly affordable : Three years ago, prices for flat-rate tariffs with three gigabytes (GB) of data started at around €17 net per month. Today, some providers offer almost half that price for three times the data volume. It makes no difference whether you look at tariffs from network operators or well-known discount providers: Prices for smartphone tariffs have dropped significantly across the board and, at the same time, include much better features.
The skilled trades also benefit : mobile working is now more affordable – whether on the road, at the construction site, or in a home office – and accessibility via telephone, email, and messenger services remains guaranteed at all times . Furthermore, mobile data transmission significantly simplifies daily work, as photos, contracts, invoices, and operating instructions can be accessed online at any time.
If businesses don't need a new smartphone, so-called "SIM-only" plans are the best choice. With these, tradespeople simply choose a plan – without a new device . Many providers now offer corresponding postpaid , prepaid , and contract plans . The advantage: The monthly fees are significantly lower than those for plans that include a new smartphone. Furthermore, the minimum contract terms are usually shorter: Some prepaid plans even allow for monthly cancellation.
To find a suitable new plan, businesses should realistically assess each employee's phone usage and data consumption – for example, by reviewing recent mobile phone bills. This way, tradespeople can find the best possible plan for their individual needs and avoid high subsequent costs. While a flat-rate phone plan now only costs a few euros per month, the desired data volume can quickly drive up the price.
Smartphone plans with unlimited data are still relatively expensive , but are slowly becoming more affordable. For example, Telefónica offers the "Business Unlimited Smart" plan for unlimited calls and internet access for €28 per month. However, this seemingly great deal has one important limitation: users don't get full LTE speeds , but a maximum of 10 Mbps. This is sufficient for HD video conferences, but transferring large files requires some patience. Those who want full LTE or even 5G speeds currently pay between €48 (Telefónica) and €79 per month ( Vodafone ) for completely unlimited plans. The biggest drawback of these fixed-term contracts for power users is that the relatively high monthly fees are charged every month – even if you use few or no included services for several weeks. The minimum contract term is usually two years.
Mobile phone discounters offer significantly cheaper plans than those from network operators : For example, you can get true flat-rate phone plans with 4 GB of data in the Telekom network or even up to 10 GB in the Telefónica network for less than nine euros per month. Those who want maximum flexibility should choose a plan with a monthly cancellation option.
This allows you to switch providers quickly if a more attractive tariff becomes available or if the selected included services no longer suit your usage. One disadvantage of discount offers is that the range of services is usually limited compared to the original network operator's tariffs, for example, through limited data transfer speeds.
A completely new tariff type that many providers have added to their portfolios is prepaid annual packages at fixed prices . In addition to a flat-rate calling plan or annual inclusive minutes, these packages offer up to 100 GB of data that can be used for an entire year. The biggest advantage: data and inclusive minutes no longer expire at the end of the month, but can be used flexibly for 365 days . However, this flexibility can also be a disadvantage: if market prices fall across the board or included services improve, you may be bound to the annual tariff for several more months. Some annual packages are also not permanently available, but only during recurring promotional offers.
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