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3G Phase-out dates
Mobile phones are getting smarter and more powerful, but they’re also pushing out older generations that reach the end of their useful lives. This puts organizations with large fleets of mobile devices at risk if they are not prepared. This article will cover the details you should be considering for your enterprise mobility management.
For the last few years, carriers have been warning customers that their older phones may lose service. This is because these devices use a technology called 3G (second-generation), which was replaced by 4G (third-generation) networks in the 2000s.
As cell phone networks upgrade to faster and more efficient technologies, older phones become obsolete.
Advanced mobile technologies and network standards have changed since 3G networks were designed. Newer standards like 4G LTE and 5G NR have proliferated, providing faster speeds, greater capacity, and improved reliability for wireless connectivity.
So when will the carrier’s 3G phase-out happen? Some have already started with the others finishing by end of year:
- AT&T will begin closing its 3G network support by February 2022.
- T-Mobile will begin closing its 3G network by March 31, 2022.
- Verizon will begin closing its 3G network by December 31, 2022.
The article covers the shutdown of 3G and the need for enterprises to be prepared for the shift to newer technologies.
What mobile devices are losing service?
When a phone loses its 3G service, it’s like losing your home phone line — you can’t call anyone, and no one can call you. This can be a problem if you live in an area where there is no 4G or wifi coverage or if you have an older model that doesn’t support any other network than 3G.
Here are some phone models that will be losing support:
- Apple phones dating older than the iPhone 6
- Samsung devices older than the Galaxy S5
T-Mobile has already stopped activating new accounts on some older iPhones and Samsung phones.
Mobile phones may be out of date, or may not support VoLTE (HD Voice) or other advanced services. The main reason for this is that 3G networks can’t handle all the new features that today’s smartphones have. For instance, newer networks can handle video calls and streaming music, while 4G LTE allows for faster downloads of large files like movies or music.
How can you keep your users connected?
Mobile phone users may need to upgrade to a newer device to ensure connectivity. Carriers may be offering discounted or free upgrades to help consumers who need to upgrade their phones.
The most important thing is to work with your mobile expense management provider to find out what their plans are for the future and how they can help you.
Here are some tips for getting started:
- Determine whether you need to upgrade your device
- Ensure that your current device is compatible with VoLTE and HD Voice services
- If you need to upgrade, get a new device that supports VoLTE and HD Voice
Making sure your devices are ready for 3G’s sunset is essential if you want to stay connected, get information when you need it, and reach out for help when you need it.
Enterprise mobility management with brightfin
Keeping a fresh outlook on all things technology has to offer is the best bet for survival in the brave new world of enterprise mobility. A keen understanding of what is available to you and how it can be used will vastly increase your chances of achieving success when a solution is needed.
The methods listed above are just a few ways in which you can kickstart your enterprise mobility management strategy; know that there are many more possibilities out there waiting to be explored. brightfin can help you get started.
brightfin provides multiple ways to save money and drive ROI. We’ll help identify unused services, devices, and plans that can be optimized and couple it with dispute management services to help recover funds. Your organization will quickly reduce costs by gaining full transparency and control of your carriers and managed service providers. Next, you’ll be able to expertly allocate mobile expenses to the right place to understand which departments and initiatives are driving IT spend.
