Do you wish to communicate more adeptly with your team? Do the distribution of your team across many locations, their frequent field visits, or working in areas with little to no cellular coverage become irksome? To add, most probably, alternate methods of communication other than the cell phone would be in the fore of your mind. Well, there is this other system of communicating: walkie-talkies.
Now let’s see the good and bad sides of both types of communication to find the best fit for your team’s communication requirements.
The Benefits of Having Smartphones
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If you are planning to use smartphones for your communication needs, you can expect the following pluses:
- Everyone on your team likely already has one, so there is no equipment to buy.
- They are versatile with a number of features such as access to email and messaging as well as connection to the internet.
- Your team already knows how to use their smartphones so there will be no need to get them up to speed on a new form of communication.
Drawbacks of Smartphones
Of course, smartphones have their drawbacks, the most significant of which are:
- They can be expensive if you are buying the devices or the plans for your team members.
- They typically need to be charged every day or multiple times per day so your team needs to have access to a power source.
- They can be vulnerable to interception as they rely on public networks.
- They can be easily ruined by dropping, crushing, or being exposed to water or other substances.
- They rely on wi-fi and cellular networks and may not work if your team is in a remote area.
The Benefits of Having Walkie Talkies
Considering walkie talkies for your communication needs? Here are some of pluses to these devices:
- They are typically less expensive than smartphones.
- They are rugged and less likely to be damaged than smartphones.
- They have a long battery life with some models lasting five days or more without a charge.
- They work in even the remotest of areas.
- Group communication is easy as multiple people can communicate at once.
- They are on their own secure channel so calls cannot be intercepted or listened in on.
- They are very simple to use with a touch to talk feature.
- They have a long range with satellite based models able to connect people no matter where they are in the world.
Drawbacks of Walkie Talkies
Walkie talkies do have some weaknesses, including:
- They don’t offer connection to the internet or other features that might be important to your team.
- Your team will have to remember to carry another device on them.
- You will need to buy the devices and pay a monthly fee.
Smartphones vs Walkie Talkies: Which One to Choose
If your team needs to instantly connect no matter where they are in the world, often break or otherwise ruin their smartphones, and need a quick, easy way to connect with the group with a touch of a button, walkie talkies are the way to go. With these devices, team communication is reliable and secure.
