Cell phones aren’t always the best option for communication. In many businesses, particularly factories and other industrial facilities, providing employees with two way radios is the superior communication solution.
Two way radio devices have a number of advantages that work well within the context of manufacturing or distribution facilities, making them the right choice.
Motorola’s 2014 survey of manufacturing plants found that many plants use two way radios for communication. Two way radios provide advantages in durability, battery life, reliability, and security that make them preferable to cell phones, which are often a more expensive solution.
- Radios are more rugged and resilient than cell phones. Many radios used in industrial settings are designed to withstand drops of four feet or more. Cell phones can suffer cracked screens or impaired functionality even from the slightest drops.
- Radios also typically have greater battery life than cell phones, increasing their value to industrial facilities. A cell phone is practically a small computer, and, as such, it draws a lot of power from its batteries. Radios typically have only a few basic functions, requiring less power. As a result, radios hold a charge longer than cell phones. The typical walkie talkie battery lasts 17 hours, whereas cell phones typically need charging every seven to 10 hours.
- Radios are more reliable than cell phones in crisis situations. Cell phones require a complex infrastructure of towers and other facilities to operate. In emergency situations, these facilities may be rendered inoperable. Radios rely on just radio signals, making them less prone to failure.
- With regard to security, modern two way radios can offer a level of security that cell phones can’t. Cell phones operate on public networks that experienced hackers can easily access. The latest two way radios can operate on private networks and offer a variety of encryption options.