There are other providers, like cable companies, angling to offer mobile data services in the future. Comcast, for example, is looking at developing a nationwide, Wifi-first mobile service and it is believed that Comcast will soon launch an MVNO service, although there are few details about the service at this time.

Some Value Added Resellers (VARs) and independent software vendors (ISVs) have stepped up to offer mobile data service options for their business customers, but they’ve had access to the same services from carriers and MVNOs that businesses do. For the channel partners, simply reselling consumer-centric rate plans and services from the major wireless carriers does not effectively meet the unique needs of mid-market and enterprise customers.

The Digital Revolution & Mobile Data Services for Businesses

To have the kind of network capacity and capabilities necessary to support the digital revolution, businesses need multi-carrier services that provide customers with access to multiple wireless service providers on a single consolidated platform. Consumer-centric, single carrier solutions that have dominated the market thus far, whether from the carriers themselves or from any of the many MVNOs, simply don’t work because businesses have fundamentally different needs than consumers.

Multi-carrier services delivered from a single, cohesive and managed platform have the network capacity and reach businesses need to digitally transform their operations. They can support high numbers of users who either work in sites scattered across different geographical regions or who have to travel with best-in-class mobile data services that span the country and even regions abroad. They can also support next-generation business models that communicate regularly with customers via apps and the mobile internet. Consider retailers who use Bluetooth beacons as customers browse stores to collect snapshots of customer shopping behaviors and buying preferences, deliver product information and coupons to customers’ devices, and arm store personnel with smart devices to conduct inventories, check stock, and even complete sales.

Increased network capacity is not all that’s needed. Robust enterprise management tools are needed so it is easier to on-board new users and remove them when services are no longer needed. This is a critical function for mid-size and enterprise companies that have hundreds or thousands of mobile users, and that have IT teams who are often spread thin and who should focus on strategic projects rather than administrative tasks (albeit important ones). Those same enterprise management solutions should include reporting tools to help both the providers and their customers plan for and make the best decisions about mobile data. The tools can analyze and make sense of a variety of data collected, so mobile data solution providers can fine-tune their offerings to best meet customer needs, and so that customers can better track their mobile data consumption. This flexibility is a must-have as devices and user behavior continue to evolve. In addition, these reporting tools can help companies, and the providers who serve them, maintain the QoS required for today’s mission-critical applications.

Finally, enterprises want business-friendly pricing, terms and billing services that are simple and straightforward. And they want access to deep expertise in deployment, as well as comprehensive customer and tech support.

Conclusion

The mobile device revolution is forging new wireless subscriber habits and upending the traditional market for mobile data services. Carriers and the many MVNOs that have entered the wireless marketplace are shifting their focus to consumer-centric services, leaving businesses with fewer – and arguably weaker – options.

Businesses have unique mobile requirements to respond to the digital revolution. Their employees and customers expect quality mobile data services and mobile applications whenever they need them, wherever they are. To meet this demand, businesses need increased network capacity, better bandwidth management, enterprise-grade QoS, and analytics that can keep pace with the fast-changing mobile device landscape. Fortunately, a new class of mobile data services providers are stepping up to deliver.