Mobile expense optimization, device program management and carrier renegotiation.
Mobile is the cost category where waste accumulates most quietly. Carrier billing is hidden inside aggregated invoices. Lines for departed employees stay active for months. Device upgrade cycles run on autopilot. BYOD policies promise savings but rarely produce them without active management. Unravyl's mobile work audits the carrier spend, rationalizes the device program, and renegotiates the contracts that hold it all together.
MDM, defined.
Mobile device management (MDM) is used in two different ways. In a narrow technical sense, MDM refers to the software platforms — Jamf, Intune, Workspace ONE — that enforce policies on mobile devices. In a broader business sense, MDM refers to the discipline of managing the costs, contracts, devices, and policies associated with corporate mobile services.
Our work covers the broader business sense. We address:
Carrier plans and pricing across major national carriers
Device programs (company-issued vs. BYOD models)
Mobile expense audit and line-by-line rationalization
Stipend programs and reimbursement structures
MDM tooling selection and procurement (we don't sell the tools)
Carrier contract negotiation
Mobile work, end to end.
Line-level mobile audit
We audit every active mobile line, mapped to current employees and devices. Lines tied to departed employees, role changes, or canceled positions are flagged for cancellation. In a typical 500-line environment, we find 3–8% of lines belong to former employees.
Plan rightsizing
We analyze actual usage patterns (talk, text, data) against the plans each line is on. Overprovisioned plans — common when carriers default new lines to high-tier plans — are downgraded. Underutilized pooled data is reallocated.
Carrier contract renegotiation
Mobile carrier contracts are some of the most negotiable in the technology category, especially for businesses with 100+ lines. We negotiate directly with carrier account teams to reduce per-line pricing, improve device upgrade terms, and align contract length with operational needs.
Device program design
For clients reconsidering their mobile policy (company-issued, BYOD, stipend, or hybrid), we structure the program design — including total cost analysis, policy recommendations, MDM tooling selection, and rollout planning.
MDM tooling selection
If a new MDM platform would help your environment, we help you evaluate the market — Jamf, Intune, Kandji, Workspace ONE, and others — based on fit, not vendor relationship. We don’t resell MDM tools.
Renewal calendar and ongoing oversight
Mobile contracts renew on different cycles than wireline telecom, which means they need separate calendar oversight. We maintain that calendar for retainer clients.
What we typically uncover
3–8% of lines belong to former employees
The pattern is consistent across industries. Offboarding processes typically catch user accounts and laptops but often miss mobile lines. The cost compounds because monthly carrier fees continue accruing.
40–60% of lines are on overprovisioned plans
Carriers default new lines to plan tiers above actual usage. Pooled data plans are sized for peak rather than average, and tiers rarely get reviewed once provisioned.
Device upgrade subsidies running indefinitely.
Device payment plans (24-, 30-, or 36-month installment plans) that completed but weren't recognized in billing reconciliation. Subsidy credits that should have applied but didn't.
International roaming charges that should be standardized plans.
Employees traveling internationally often incur high per-day roaming charges that could be standardized into international plans at fraction of the cost.
Inactive lines kept "just in case
Lines for temporary projects, vacation phones, or backup devices that haven't been used in 6+ months but remain active.
BYOD stipends without policy enforcement.
Stipend programs that pay employees a flat monthly amount regardless of whether they're using a personal device or expensing carrier costs separately.
There is no one right answer.
Company-issued
Offers stronger device control, easier security policy enforcement, simpler offboarding (the device comes back), and consolidated carrier billing. It's typically more expensive per user but easier to manage.
BYOD.
Appears cheaper but introduces stipend management complexity, security policy gaps, harder offboarding (you can't take a personal device), and frequently unreimbursed business use that becomes a cost or liability issue elsewhere.
Hybrid models
Company-issued for some roles, BYOD for others — common, but it requires disciplined policy management to avoid the worst of both worlds.
We help clients evaluate the actual total cost of each model based on their specific environment, then design the policy and execution to match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will you replace our MDM platform?
No. We don't sell MDM platforms or take commissions from MDM vendors. If a new MDM platform would benefit your environment, we help you evaluate the open market and select the right tool — but we're not a reseller and we don't operate the platform on your behalf.
Can you negotiate with all the major mobile carriers?
Yes. We have negotiation experience with all major US carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) as well as several regional providers and MVNOs. Carrier flexibility varies by account size, contract age, and competitive pressure — we benchmark expected outcomes before committing to negotiation strategy.
What's the minimum number of lines for an engagement to make sense?
Roughly 50 lines for a structured audit. Below that, the savings opportunity is often smaller than the engagement cost — though exceptions exist for specific situations (a contract coming up for renewal, a large device upgrade decision, a policy redesign).
Will the audit disrupt our users?
No. The audit is a back-office process. Users are not contacted, surveyed, or asked to do anything. The data we need comes from carrier billing, MDM systems, and HR data.
Do you help with mobile security policy?
We help with mobile policy structure as it relates to cost, device management, and program design. Detailed security policy (mobile threat defense, mobile application management, compliance enforcement) typically requires a dedicated security advisor — we can refer to specialists when needed.
How quickly can we start seeing savings on mobile?
Some categories produce immediate savings: canceling lines for departed employees, removing inactive lines, and correcting billing errors can typically be completed within 30 days. Plan rightsizing and contract renegotiation typically take 60–120 days. Device program redesign is a longer effort, usually 4–6 months.
