The cloud is the future of mobile

Nearly 80% of UK organisations have formally adopted at least one cloud-based service. Cloud technology and services are now integrated into all of our lives, making us more connected, more productive, and hopefully freeing up valuable time.  This is so for both home and professional lives. 

[easy-tweet tweet=”#mobile number flexibility has been relatively late to enter the #cloud in full force” user=”comparethecloud”]

Considering its central place in the modern digital landscape, it seems strange that mobile number flexibility has been relatively late to enter the cloud in full force, but key consumer and business trends are now meaning companies are utilising the cloud to bring mobile communications in-line with other technology.

Virtualisation of mobile

A cloud mobile number works just like any other mobile number

A cloud mobile number works just like any other mobile number, but the number is removed from the physical SIM card and placed in a ‘cloud-based mobile network’.  Users can then access their phone number in the same manner they would access any other cloud-based service – through a connected device.

Virtualisation of mobile network services in this way is almost identical to what has been done with music, documents, software, and general file storage: it gives users the flexibility to access their number easily on any connected device, at any time, and from anywhere in the world.

Modern businesses; outdated communications

Recent figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 76% of businesses do not employ anyone.  At first glance this may appear strange.  How can a company get any work done when it has no employees?

What the study in fact demonstrates is the large number of people who are self-employed or operate single person companies. There is also an increasing trend towards companies using contractors and freelancers on a temporary or project-led basis. 

Recent figures released by ONS show that 76% of businesses do not employ anyone

Businesses that are still employing people are seeing a huge rise in employees bringing their own mobile devices to use at work (BYOD). The most recent Tech Pro Research survey on the subject shows that BYOD has been adopted by 59% of organisations, with a further 13% planning to do so soon. 

While this offers benefits to businesses (for a start their employees are now purchasing the devices they need to perform at work!), it does present drawbacks.  When an employee is working for a business their phone number becomes associated with their role, and the contacts the worker makes in connection with their role also become associated with that number.  So what happens when the worker leaves?

Cloud mobile for business

Cloud mobile numbers can give companies the tools they need to thrive in a modern business landscape. They can allow them to anticipate and prevent issues of increased costs and decreased visibility associated with BYOD, while also enabling a new level of control over a company’s intellectual property (IP).

New employees can be allocated a business phone number to their own mobile phone for as long as is required; the business does not have to pay for a new device or contract, and the employee can keep using the handset they know while still retaining their personal number. The business is always in control of the number and when an employee moves on the business can immediately assign the number to their replacement, keeping the contact point with the business rather than the employee. 

[easy-tweet tweet=”#Cloud #Mobile allows you to run multiple numbers on one device” user=”comparethecloud”]

Owners of small businesses and freelancers can use a cloud-based mobile service to separate their personal and business communications on one device. Owners of several businesses can also separate their communications, by having individual phone numbers for each of their businesses, accessing them all through just one device. Whenever they receive a call, they will know exactly which business it relates to and can answer appropriately, and when they make a call they can choose which number to display on outgoing calls and texts.

Cloud mobile for everyone

Cloud mobile numbers also lend themselves well to being used as temporary numbers, which can be particularly useful for communication in our increasingly digital lives at home.  In cases where protecting privacy is crucial, such as dating (both online and in the real world), and using online marketplaces, cloud numbers are an easy and transparent way to make calls or send SMS text messages to someone you are just getting to know.

[easy-tweet tweet=”Don’t trust that #Tinder date enough to give them your real number? Maybe a #Cloud number is the way to go!”]

In addition to multiple mobile phone numbers on one phone, cloud numbers allow users to avoid expensive roaming charges when abroad. While data charges can still be a problem, when connected to a Wi-Fi network, users can make calls to any mobile phone number around the world for a cost-effective and transparent call rate. This is great for expats, who want a UK mobile number as a point of contact but often struggle to manage cost-effective communications with home while they are based abroad.

In personal and business lives, virtualisation of mobile is poised to change the communications landscape forever, enabling people to decide not just whether to take a call or not, but exactly how to take it too.

virtualisation of mobile is poised to change the communications landscape forever