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The 4G LTE network has been around for many years now, but a lot of businesses and business owners continue to use devices that have slower 3G connections — or they rely on landlines without any wireless connections at all. This is especially true of small businesses that don’t need the internet to get by, like restaurants and fashion boutiques. You may have a website, and it might be pretty nice, but you don’t use 4G LTE because it’s an extra investment that doesn’t seem worth it.
However, a good wireless connection with a strong data connection could be useful to a local business in several ways. Here are four different ways a 4G wireless connection could help your business:
Portability
Portability is the biggest advantage 4G LTE has over the landline — your devices aren’t tied down to one spot. This is a big benefit for something like a food truck that takes its business on the go, because you can hook up a card reader to a smartphone or tablet and accept more than just cash. With fewer Americans carrying cash around, it’s important to read cards and accept smartphone transfers.
Other small businesses require a lot of driving around. You may be looking for clients, customers, vendors, or all of the above, and 4G helps with the traveling sales pitch. You can use a portable connection to keep in touch with your main office and keep your sales presentations on a cloud server. Since 4G LTE handles heavy data rates well, you can keep your presentation on a cloud server and call it up whenever you need it. Just make sure you sign up with a 4G LTE network with good coverage, like T-Mobile’s.
Larger Customer Base
Developing a larger customer base is an advantage that comes with going online in general. The internet can reach any person at any location in the world, at least theoretically, and that includes people interested in buying your products or services. If you have an online business model, you’ve probably upgraded already, but 4G LTE can also help businesses where customers show up in person.
Many companies create their own apps, the same way they create websites, except an app can detect where its users are standing with GPS and then check in through a 4G connection when they’re at the store. By checking in, app users can get bonuses, discounts, and other perks, giving them an extra reason to stop by your brick-and-mortar location.
Fast Setup
By using a 4G LTE network for your online connection, your business doesn’t have to worry about plugging wires in or otherwise complicating an office setup when you’d rather get up and running fast. With a 4G network at your disposal, all you need is a laptop or a mobile device, a power connection, and a good wireless signal. With just that, you’ll be ready to go — which means you can turn your work van or truck into a mobile office, or you could use some borrowed office space without worrying about the cleanup afterward.
Rapid Data Transfers
Rapid data transfer is what sets 4G LTE apart from all the cellular networks that came before it. You can pass more information at once through the 4G LTE network, and while the old 3G lines could manage text and still images, 4G offers streaming video and audio with plenty of detail for both. Depending on your business, you might need this powerful connection to present online videos, to create and upload videos and audio in a timely manner, or to let your customers use this fast connection when they’re at your brick-and-mortar storefront or office.
4G LTE wireless connections can help all kinds of businesses, including ones you wouldn’t expect to benefit. As long as you can access the information you need as fast as you need it, you’ll always find new ideas and new concepts that will bring your business into the modern era, so whether you’re getting with the times via a card reader or you’re reaching out to a worldwide audience, a 4G network will make sure you stay properly connected.