ServiceM8 Phone Tip – Switch from mobile data to using the standard phone network when you don’t have any signal

Did you know that ServiceM8 Phone now has ‘Cellular Network Fallback’?

In plain english, when you’re in an area with low mobile internet (data) coverage, you can switch from using data over the internet to using the standard phone network.

First, you need to switch on the option to let your staff choose –

This is in advanced settings for ServiceM8 Phone, which can be found by logging into your account on ServiceM8.com and going to:

Account > Settings > ServiceM8 Phone > Advanced Settings > Switch on Call Mode Control

Then, each staff member using ServiceM8 Phone can choose whether to use mobile data, or the standard phone network – they just have to open the ServiceM8 Phone app and go to More > Call Mode and select the one they want.

Note – remember to switch the Call Mode back to VoIP with Mobile Data when you’re back in a high-coverage area…. because……

Some important points (that aren’t included on the ServiceM8 published help article):

• This feature is intended as a temporary option when using ServiceM8 Phone i.e. you might leave it on for minutes/hours when working in (or moving through) a low-coverage area. It’s not designed to be a ‘set-and-forget’ preference.
• Switching call modes between VoIP and the Standard Phone Network is per staff member — it’s not an account-wide switch every time someone switches modes.
• A staff member’s mobile number in their staff profile (Settings > Staff) must match their actual mobile phone number on the device they’re using, in order for this feature to work.
• You cannot use the normal ServiceM8 Phone app & features when on a call while the Standard Phone Network mode is activated.
• When Standard Phone Network mode is activated, only preset call recording will work i.e. if the business has set all ‘Inbound and Outbound calls’, or ‘Inbound calls only’. You cannot start or stop recording part-way through a call with this mode activated (because you cannot use the ServiceM8 Phone app)
• Another disadvantage is possible additional charges that might be associated with using the standard phone network from your service provider/carrier.

Do you use ServiceM8 Phone?

What’s mobile data coverage like in your area?