[iphone] Mobile Phone query

[Dan2025]

Currently looking for a better solution to our work mobile phones.

 

As of now we have non-camera phones with I believe a pay monthly sim but these are pretty intermittent.

 

I'd personally like to look into getting some cheap iPhone's possibly contract and then have them added to Jamf but I need to be able to sell this to SLT.

 

Any recommendations for this? Could potentially need 8-10 devices.

[Roberto]

You say "better solution" but you've not said what the problem is with the current solution. How are the current phones "intermittent"? Is the lack of (or presumably disabling of) cameras a feature you require, a limit you're trying to overcome? You call it out but don't mention why you've called it out.

[Dan2025]

You say "better solution" but you've not said what the problem is with the current solution. How are the current phones "intermittent"? Is the lack of (or presumably disabling of) cameras a feature you require, a limit you're trying to overcome? You call it out but don't mention why you've called it out.

 

The phones are cheap cameraless handsets, think they may have snake on! Some of them have been purchased in the last 6months.

The issues appear to mainly be signal & battery life. The phones are all with EE and at multiple sites so can't really blame EE.

 

 

These are used in satellite classes based at other schools, it is the main way for main site to contact them bar email. They are also used on trips & to contact parents.

 

If the phones weren't needed for trips I'd consider something more fixed.

Edited January 18, 2023 by Danwinchelsea

[DavR]

We use basic Nokia 105s for our trip phones. Cheap to buy (approx £15 + VAT), great battery life, and don't cost much to run as they've got no data connection - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nokia-105-Dual-SIM-Black-unlocked/dp/B097MSDQ3L/

 

We did have to buy a smartphone for one teacher, as they had special permission to use WhatsApp to talk to parents and take and send photos. Android is your best bet here, not as many MDM options, but a tenth of the price of iPhone. We bought a Ulefone Note 6P 32GB for £62 + VAT. That model doesn't seem to be available any more, but similar ones from Ulefone and others are under £100 on Amazon.

[Norphy]

The phones are cheap cameraless handsets, think they may have snake on! Some of them have been purchased in the last 6months.

The issues appear to mainly be signal & battery life. The phones are all with EE and at multiple sites so can't really blame EE.

 

 

These are used in satellite classes based at other schools, it is the main way for main site to contact them bar email. They are also used on trips & to contact parents.

 

If the phones weren't needed for trips I'd consider something more fixed.

 

What is the cheap, cameraless handset? Are they all the same model? @DaveAshworth recommended the Nokia 105 above, which could be a totally legit recommendation but if you're already running these, or something similar...

 

You're also not being particularly clear on what you're looking for.

 

Regarding cheap Android phones

 

Yes, the initial cost of that Ulefone device is lower but the TCO could end up being higher if the device goes out of support after a year or two and your data security policies require you to be running on a supported operating system. An iPhone SE costs £449 from Apple (probably lower if you've already got a contract with someone) but if history is anything to go by, it should be in support for at least another four years and will receive security and OS updates in that time. Similarly, the Google Pixel 6a is £400 and will receive security updates until 2027. Barring hardware failure or accidental damage, those devices shouldn't need replacing in that time, whereas the Ulefone is already a version of Android behind and there doesn't appear to be an awful lot about updates on their website. Yes, you could buy four Ulefones for the price of a single Pixel but if you have to replace it yearly, you aren't any better off. I'm not saying "Don't buy Android" but I do think it's better to stick with the larger brands, or at least ones which have clearly defined support cycles.

[TechMonkey]

Be very careful with feature phones. A lot of them are 2G, some are 3G. Both are being sunsetted, 2G end of 2025 and 3G by end of 2024 (depending on network). Some providers like Three have stopped 2G already.

So ensure you get 4G handsets.

[Guest Guest]

We used to use cheap Android phones and the site team had JCB phones.

 

We had numerous issues and so replaced with iPhones, just replaced our iPhone 7s with SE 2022s, we pay roughly £30 per month per handset

[Roberto]

I'd look at either something like the Google Pixel or an iPhone SE at this point - they're both reliable, well supported by their manufacturer and can easily be managed with your MDM of choice (though as you mention JAMF this leads you to iPhones more than a Google Pixel I should expect).

 

We support '000s of phones globally using a MDM service and a distribution system I designed and built and my takeaway from that is that while the more expensive phones have a steeper up-front price, you get it back in less support time, fewer support calls, less user issues and, let's be honest, if we're talking about an iPhone you're talking about a device that will be supported for several years which is *not* a given about older phones or feature phones - I think TechMonkey's point about feature phones that rely on 2g or 3g was very well made.