Avoid bill shock with apps such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom
During the current situation, we’ve all had to find new ways of communicating and some of us will no doubt be using new technology to stay in touch with people but it’s important not to be hit with bill shock.
We’re using Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Facetime more than ever before. In fact, Microsoft Teams reported a 70% rise during the Coronavirus pandemic and the application has grown to accommodate 75 million daily active users.
What’s more, businesses are using the Microsoft Teams platform so much that in one single day in April it reported 200 million meeting participants.
Despite the obvious benefits of using collaborative communication applications such as these, there are warnings to be heeded as using these new technologies and programmes could come as a shock when the monthly bills land on the doorstep.
Data or No Data?
That is the question. And, when it comes to using Microsoft Teams you should be switching off your mobile data and switching on your WiFi.
While some people will access Microsoft Teams via their laptop or desktop computers for those accessing the application on their mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets the data costs could come as quite the shock.
Jeff Hardie, Product Director at Daisy Communications said: “It’s important to use your WiFi where possible if you’re using Microsoft Teams. Someone using their mobile data on a 30-minute call could use approximately 700MB in one fell swoop which is a hefty amount if you’re limited by monthly data usage.”
Don’t let bill shock you!
At the moment, businesses are looking to cut costs wherever possible and the last thing you need right now is a steep mobile bill you weren’t prepared for landing on your doorstep.
If you have employees working remotely, it’s more important than ever to assess your mobile usage and the business mobile plan you might be on.
Choosing one with more data could be more cost-effective in the long run, especially if your employees are using their mobile devices and data to access applications like Microsoft Teams.
If changing providers or upgrading your mobile plan isn’t an option at the moment, some providers offer customers the option to add data caps or bars to their mobile accounts. This can often be set up quickly and easily via your online account and will ensure your business avoids the dreaded bill shock at a time when every penny counts.
Why not upgrade?
If you feel like upgrading is the best option for your business at the moment, there’s plenty of cost-effective solutions on the market.
With Microsoft Teams sapping so much data on a relatively short call, it could be worth considering going unlimited. With unlimited data, it’s exactly that and eradicates the risk of bill shock while giving your employees everything they need to collaborate, communicate and work effectively from wherever they might be.
What’s more, some of the unlimited data plans are available as SIM-only options; giving your business a cheaper option as there’s no costly handsets to add onto the monthly price.
Alternatively, a flexible business mobile tariff could be for you. Some mobile tariffs, such as Daisy Fusion, give each mobile user within the tariff a set amount of minutes, texts and data but, should they run out there’s an optional shared allowance pool they can dip into if they need to.
