We all know someone—or maybe you are that someone—who proudly holds on to their mobile device until it becomes a certifiable vintage accessory. The common justification is that if it’s not broken, why fix it? But if these users spent just one day on a newer device, they’d answer this question for themselves.
Over Thanksgiving, I discovered my father is still happily operating on his iPhone 5. He thinks that because he kept in good condition, it works just as well as the day he bought it. But that isn’t true. Since my father only uses his phone when he wants to make or receive a voice call, he isn’t aware of how far behind the technology curve his phone’s abilities have fallen.
Upgrading to the latest phone is about much more than appearances; it’s about equipping yourself with the most efficient, productive, and compatible device available.
Optimized for Network Compatibility
The best carriers are constantly upgrading their networks. For instance, GCI is in the process of adding coverage and capacity in the form of additional spectrum in Anchorage. We are also upgrading our cell towers to feature advanced LTE features like 4×4 MIMO, carrier aggregation, LTE-LAA, and 256 QAM, on our aggressive path to 5G. That’s a lot of tech-speak for “faster, higher-capacity service.”
While all GCI wireless customers will see an improvement in performance, those with the newest phones will enjoy the biggest difference.
For those who travel to the Lower 48, the same logic applies. Our roaming partner, T-Mobile, has been making tremendous upgrades to their network, adding low-band spectrum that covers rural areas like never before while deploying some of the fastest, most capable network technology in the business to urban regions. Customers with the latest devices from GCI will be able to experience these improvements when they travel south of the Canadian border.
Powered by the Latest Operating Systems
The newest phones will always provide the best experience, because they use the latest technology. Access to this technology requires certain physical hardware but also software and security updates, for which phones without the newest operating system updates won’t be eligible, potentially leaving them susceptible to security breaches.
As we learned with Apple in 2017, older operating systems eventually become outdated and unable to sustain the demands of newer updates. Whether that is the result of aging batteries or advances in technology, there will always be a time when hardware needs a refresh.
Apple’s newest operating system, iOS 13, will support older devices back to 2015. So, if you’re operating on an iPhone 5 or 6, you will not be able to experience iOS 13 advancements, which include Dark Mode, Photos and camera upgrades, enhanced privacy and security, faster app launch abilities, optimized battery charging, and more.
Business users benefit, too.
Enterprise-specific iOS 13 updates include data separation for bring-your-own-device, which maintains user privacy while keeping corporate data protected.
Enterprise users will also benefit from managed Apple IDs for business, giving employees access to services like iCloud Notes, and single sign-on extension, which enables users to easily log in to apps and websites using the security of Face ID and Touch ID.
Android 10 is the newest operating system for Samsung devices. The technology is right on par with the competition, and its new capabilities include: Dark theme, Smart Reply, reimagined privacy controls that allow you to opt out of ad retargeting and personalization, security updates, and adaptive battery improvements, among other things.
Android 10 features designed for enterprise users include Focus mode, which allows you to turn off certain apps and notifications to minimize distractions and focus on what’s in front of you; improved provisioning tools for work profiles; the removal of device admin for enterprise purposes, which enables more private and secure offerings; and a separate input method for work and personal profiles.
On Par with Technology Advancements
You may be able to hold off on purchasing a new device for a few generations of phone upgrades, but it’s unlikely you’ll last long when the next generation of mobile technology goes mainstream. Each time mobile technology makes a leap, the devices follow in order to experience the unexplored capabilities of that generation. The evolution of wireless communication has gone from 1G, an analog network used exclusively for voice calls; to 2G, a digital technology that introduced text messaging; to 3G, a faster network with increased capacity that introduced us to mobile internet; to 4G, an even faster network that changed mobile communication by paving the way for the app economy; and now 5G is making its debut as an enabler of yet-unimagined use cases with unprecedented improvements in speed, latency and connectivity.
As with the generations of mobile technology that came before it, customers will need a 5G-compatible phone to experience 5G. 5G users will operate at noticeably faster speeds than LTE and be first adopters of the cutting-edge technology and applications that are being developed for 5G networks. But you don’t need the newest phone to experience network improvements. The newer your LTE device is, the more difference you’ll notice in our upgraded service — and that’s before we even start talking about 5G!
Is it Time for an Upgrade?
This isn’t to say that you should upgrade your phone every year. Customers who buy an iPhone 11 or Samsung Galaxy 10 series phone now should see improvements and benefits over the next few years. But if your phone starts to feel sluggish, or you aren’t getting the same level of service as your colleagues on newer phones, now you’ll know it’s because your phone’s radios and software just can’t keep up. Remember: It’s what’s on the inside that counts.