There is been a lot of media coverage about the latest gadget/toy – the iPhone.
Without question it is up the top of the list for many people wanting the latest gadget phone. But is it actually good for business?
I recently purchased an iPhone and found the answer to this question.
The short answer is yes, the iPhone is a fantastic business device.
In fact, the best all in one e-mail/calendar/telephone I have ever owned.
So apart from it being “cool”, what makes it a good business device?
There are a number of reasons I could cover here, so I’ll keep it to the main benefits I and some of our clients have found:
General ease of use of the phone
It is very easy to use the device and navigate around – in fact it only has one button on the front of the device – can’t get much easier than that.
Synchronisation of e-mail/calendar/contacts
Whilst many devices on the market do this (BlackBerry, iMate, some Nokia’s), without question the iPhone does it better.
Emails are shown just as they are in outlook – including tables, pictures etc, and is very easy to read attachments in Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Word – much better than viewing them in text only
Meeting requests, sending emails, viewing your calendar is very easy and very visual.
Very fast to use
I had a bad experience with my last Nokia where if I started using it during an e-mail synch, the device would laterally make me wait a couple of minutes before I could use it. The iPhone has tonnes of processing power and seems to be ready for anything.
Reliability
Time will tell with this one. With only being on the market for a couple of months no one can draw a conclusion here, but what I can say is that from a usability perspective and linking in with the server for emails – it just works
GPS and Roadmaps
If you want a Navman, go and buy one. This device isn’t going to give you 100% of what a Navman can.
In saying this, if you’re happy with 80% - then look no further.
I recently participated in a clients offsite leadership strategy day in Hamilton. Having not travelled to the premises before (and being in a suburb I wasn’t particularly familiar with), I punched it in before I left, and it took me right to the door. It doesn’t give you voice prompts, although this is planned for a future software upgrade.
Other
But whilst it does the business functions very well, let’s not forget that it also has the personal “cool” factor of being your music device, playing movies, and having a tonne of downloadable applications.
One such application I’ve only just downloaded for $5 dollars, which shows me the tide charts and latest isobaric weather maps – perfect.
Downsides
Whilst it is a brilliant device, there are a few items I’ve found that I believe they can improve on – and you need to keep these in mind if you’re going to purchase one:
Can’t PXT (send a picture text) (Updated: New feature now in v3)
The only way to send a picture with an iPhone is via E-mail. This is fine when you are sending pictures to other people with E-mail enabled handhelds, but if they don’t have one, then you won’t be sending them any pictures.
Email synchronisation schedule
Whilst having “push” ability so that I am up to the play with all of my emails very moment they arrive is a great feature, I like to have this turned off after business hours.
With the iPhone I have not yet found the ability to do this, and so an e-mail can wake you up at 2AM in the morning – therefore I’ve turned off any audible alert when an E-mail arrives.
You can set it to check at certain intervals (e.g. every half hour), but not set what hours of the day it will check within.
Can’t be used as a Bluetooth modem (Updated: New feature now in v3)
Whilst the device does support Bluetooth (for a headset or car-kit etc.), it cannot act as a Bluetooth modem. So if you use to get online with your laptop using your phone as a modem, it’s not going to work here.
So if you just want to browse the Internet, the iPhone can do it anyway, but if you do need your laptop online, you’ll have to find a wireless hot spot, or continue using a 3G data card.
All in all, the iPhone his hands down been the best business phone I have ever owned.
If you want to know if the iPhone can help your business, call us now- we’d be happy to help – 0800
PULSE IT.
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Carly S.