Changing the Way People Trade – Mobile Forex Trading
For many years, Forex traders were forced to sit in front of their desktop computers. However, much like many other industries the Forex trading market has joined the mobile brigade, and now offer traders the convenience of trading on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. What was on offer started out pretty dismally but it seems that Forex brokers and other industry related businesses are now picking up their act. No surprise there really though, because we all love to use our mobile devices for keeping our daily lives on track.
What is mobile trading?
This is a pretty simple question to answer, as basically it is trading the Forex market using a smartphone or tablet. Being able to fit Forex trading in around an already full schedule, with work, family and social commitments taking up a large part of your time, is made much easier with the recent advancements in smartphone and tablet technology. As well as using your mobile device for shopping, planning, keeping a calendar, and finding out everything you need to know, you can now use it to trade Forex via one of the many mobile Forex apps. Provided, of course, you have a secure and stable internet connection. No longer are you tied to your PC or laptop. Instead you can trade while sat on the bus, waiting in line for a coffee, while out cycling, or sat beside the pool enjoying a vacation.
There are a number of Forex brokers offering some brilliant Forex trading apps, and there are also a wide variety of apps that will help you keep abreast of the markets as well. Possibly one of the best Forex apps, and also one of the most popular, is the MetaTrader 4 Remote app. It is one of the best mobile trading platforms as it offers full functionality of the MT4 platform including managing and opening positions, setting stop and limit orders, Forex chart monitoring and much more. In fact it perfectly mirrors the functionality of the desktop platform, making it easy to use, navigate and understand. It also links directly to an MT4 trading account, which means there is no worry about having to register or open a new account.
You don’t have to open up a trading account with a broker that offers a Forex trading app, if all you want to do is receive the best charting functionality, up to the minute analysis and news updates via your mobile phone. There are a number of apps, some of them free, that deliver all the latest Forex information direct to a mobile device, without signing up to a particular broker.
Choosing a smartphone for the best Forex app
There are two things to consider if you’re planning on buying a smartphone for Forex trading, and with so much choice it can sometimes be confusing. First place to start is by looking at the operating system used by the phone. A smartphone’s operating system (OS) contains the software that supports the functions of the phone. It is what allows the user to make phone calls, send texts, and install various apps. There are basically three choices: Android, iOS (iPhone), and Windows. The best mobile Forex apps are generally available for Android and iOS smartphones. There isn’t much choice of mobile Forex apps for Windows phones, Blackberry, Fire OS (Amazon), or Firefox OS.
Another important factor to take into consideration is the size of the screen. 5 inches is probably the smallest, otherwise charts will be a nightmare to navigate. Resolution is also important, with the optimum being 1920×1080 (1080p). If you haven’t got the budget to run to a new phone then there is nothing wrong with sticking with what you’ve already got. It’s certainly worth a try if funds are limited, and you may be able to buy yourself a new phone with some of your Forex profits.
Battery life is another important consideration, as there is possibly nothing worse than your phone dying in the middle of a trade. An ideal battery length is about 6 hours, when in use. This is long enough to allow for a day of heavy usage without having to worry about popping home for a recharge. The bigger smartphones tend to have a longer battery life, so you’ll be blessed with the best of both worlds. A large screen and hours to keep trading. We should point out that battery life isn’t the be all and end all, as you always have the option of carrying another battery.