Last week, it was confirmed that Apple had partnered with Verizon on a new small business program called Fleet Swap, designed to encourage users to upgrade to brand new iPhones.
It’s the first time that Apple has publicly promoted the iPhone towards business users, and unlocks a new present for the company at a time when it looks to diversify and reach new markets.
Below, we’ve put together a few reasons why the new partnership really matters.
Brings 5G to businesses without breaking the bank
Though still in its infancy in the United States and around the world, the iPhone 12 delivers an advanced 5G experience on a global scale, with seamless integration of world-class hardware and world-class software. Apple says that 5G on iPhone is faster than on other devices, offering faster downloads, high-quality video streaming, responsive gaming, and real-time interactivity within apps. The security benefits are great, too – Apple says that the speed and performance of 5G mean it’s no longer necessary to connect to insecure public WiFi networks. iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max feature the most 5G bands on any smartphone, which results in the broadest 5G coverage worldwide. Models sold in the United States also support millimeter wave, the higher frequency version of 5G, meaning the iPhone can reach speeds of up to 4Gbps, even in populated areas. Smart Data mode automatically switches the device between 4G and 5G to maximize data usage and minimize power consumption.
Businesses can pay to unlock faster 5G speeds
As part of the new program, Verizon announced its first two indoor 5G ultrawideband services for enterprise customers, with General Motors and Honeywell enabling technology at their sites. General Motors introduces ultrawideband 5G at its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center, the firm’s all-electric car plant. It demonstrates that carriers are positioning ultra wideband 5G as an enterprise feature rather than the lower-bandwidth 5G offered to consumers outdoors, and gives larger corporations direct access to 5G upgrades. What’s important to note, however, is that General Motors and Honeywell’s 5G projects are not private networks – consumers locally will be able to take advantage of faster 5G speeds.
iPhone is compelling for SMEs
There’s never been a better time to use Apple products for business. With iOS 14, Apple has been able to loosen the reins and give users more control over the apps they want to use, with new default app options meaning Safari can be swapped out for Chrome, for example. Add on top of this a new home screen design with useful widgets, ideal for the business world, App Clips to make transport and commerce easier than ever, added privacy enhancements, with further changes to come, an overhauled Apple Maps experience to better compete with Google’s offering, and a Translate app to communicate with clients on the other side of the world, and iOS is the ecosystem for business. iPadOS can be utilized to take notes with Apple Pencil, multitask on the go, whilst Safari in iPadOS 14 includes built-in language translation, improved performance, and a new Privacy Report feature for added security.
Do you think you’d upgrade to a new 5G iPhone for work? Let us know and check back to the website soon for more news and rumors on everything Apple, every week, right here.