An announcement last week from Motorola Solutions about its Mobility Lifecycle Management service got me thinking about what companies need to do to maintain their fleets of two-way radios. For the whole story, I went to Hugh Johnston, BearCom's Product & Purchasing Manager, who as usual had plenty of good advice. "Radios can lead a tough life," Hugh said, explaining how they can get dropped and banged against things. Knobs and antennas have it especially rough. "And the most difficult environments aren't necessarily the ones you would expect." Retail store employees, he said, can be especially hard on smaller radios like the Motorola CLP1010. Generally speaking, Hugh said, two-way radios last an average of five to seven years, but he cautioned that's merely an average. They can last a few years or perform well for 20. It all depends on how they're used and on the people using them. "Look at the historical trends," Hugh advised. The radio component that likely will need replacing first is the battery. These tend to last an average of 18-24 months, Hugh said, depending on how often they're recharged. Antennas are another commonly replaced component. I asked about updates. As technology improves, can it be installed on existing radios to prolong their useful lives? "Digital upgrades are constantly available," Hugh said, so users of Motorola MOTOTRBO radios can get firmware and application upgrades from a qualified technician. Most of BearCom's 26 branches located across the country have the ability to handle upgrades as well as repairs, he said. Hugh advised organizations using older radios to start thinking sooner rather than later about replacement, and setting aside funding for that purpose. If that seems problematic, Hugh said, they may want to consider two-way radio rentals. By renting or leasing equipment, Hugh said, organizations lower their upfront costs and often can look forward to more frequent equipment upgrades. Motorola Solutions says that only 18% of organizations have an effective strategy in place to address changes in mobile technology use and adoption. That's where Mobility Lifecycle Management comes in. The announcement came with a video that explains how the service works. Watching it may get you thinking about your own fleet of mobile devices and what you need to do to keep the lines of communication open.

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