Mystery Shopper has seen a mobile data hotspot working and wants a phone that can do the same. Which mobiles are capable, which is best and what are the costs?
5: O2
Product range – 1/5
Product knowledge – 1/5
Airtime knowledge – 2/5
Questioning ability – 2/5
Sales ability – 2/5
Shop appearance – 3/5
Total – 11/30
=4: Phones 4U
Product range – 3/5
Product knowledge – 3/5
Airtime knowledge – 3/5
Questioning ability – 2/5
Sales ability – 3/5
Shop appearance – 3/5
Total – 17/30
=4: T-Mobile
Product range – 3/5
Product knowledge – 3/5
Airtime knowledge – 3/5
Questioning ability – 2/5
Sales ability – 3/5
Shop appearance – 3/5
Total – 17/30
2: Ask Mobile (Independent)
Product range – 3/5
Product knowledge – 3/5
Airtime knowledge – 3/5
Questioning ability – 3/5
Sales ability – 3/5
Shop appearance – 3/5
Total – 18/30
1: Three
Product range – 4/5
Product knowledge – 5/5
Airtime knowledge – 4/5
Questioning ability – 3/5
Sales ability – 3/5
Shop appearance – 4/5
Total – 23/30
Summary
All stores, with the exception of Three, took time to fully understand my request. Staff knew selected handsets were capable of becoming Wi-Fi hotspots but often relied on “there’s an app you download” as an answer.
HTC handsets, specifically the Desire, were the most popular recommendation due to the battery life and Android operating system.
The all-round level of knowledge, a demonstration and the all you can eat tariff exhibited by Three, made it head an shoulders above the rest.
Full review in Mobile News issue 487 (April 25, 2011).
