Posted by Claudine Osborne on 10/22/10 8:14pm
Msg #357844

Smart phone

Ok I finally aquired a smart phone last week! After much frustration I have finally gotten to the point where I think I can manage this phone! I am not a techie and I have difficulty reading the phone..sight problems..But so far it has helped me with replying to emails, finding locations, points of interest and taken pic of IDs. I love it!

I would like to know what kind of apps that you have and love on your phone that may help in this business? Thanks

Reply by Susan Fischer on 10/22/10 10:23pm
Msg #357854

I have a smartphone app, and with the dock and BlueTooth

installed, it all works through the radio. We are hands-free here in OR, so it's really handy - when the phone rings, the radio/CD goes off and I can answer and then decide if I need to pull off, for instance.

I'm just getting into the email part, because I hate to type on the tiny letters, and try to avoid sending 'em.

It's also got the GPS directions - I wish that were voice-activated - maybe that will be an upgrade.

I love the pics, too.

There're so many apps, so little time...

Reply by Jessica Ward on 10/22/10 10:49pm
Msg #357856

Re: I have a smartphone app, and with the dock and BlueTooth

I posted a note early about an app I just found called drivesafe.ly that reads your email and texts (love it). I also use Evernote mobile for remembering stuff, and I have a Fedex app (I think on my GPS, I've never looked for one on my phone) that shows me all the drop points (I keep that running in the background on my GPS unit so I can pull off and drop packages when I'm on the road rather than packing them around on my person all day, as I don't ever leave them unattended--if I go into a closing, they stay in my bag with me (heavy bag!)

As for the email, get voice recognition rather than typing. I also know someone who put a custom "footer" on her phone where most of ours say "sent via blackberry" or "sent from my iphone" hers says "typed painstakingly from my phone" which is a nice way of saying "please excuse my typos."

Also, for the screen issue--is it that your print is too small (you can change this in default settings) or that the screen has glare? I have screen glare issues and got a matte stick-on thingy that is pretty much a clear plastic sticker, which knocks down the glare a bit.

I don't like to use my Smartphone (Blackberry Storm) as GPS because 1. screen is too small, 2. I cover a lot of rural and mountianous areas--wherever cell service is lost, so am I (I use GPS which seems more reliable), and 3. I don't want to hassle with getting phone calls while trying to find someplace, so I have a separate electronic gadget for everything (which means a backup if one fails too!)

Reply by James Dawson on 10/23/10 1:43am
Msg #357860

Re: Smart phone I have police scanner (free) app that

allow you to listen to police, sheriff and fire department broadcast. I only use it when I'm in traffic to see what the hold up is and if I should take an alternate route.

Reply by MW/VA on 10/23/10 8:24am
Msg #357872

Congrats, Claudine. I went to a Blackberry (Storm) 2 years ago. I was tired of the stress of not knowing when docs were sent. It's great to be able to access my biz email on the road. Also, I have "visual voice mail" which means my voice mail messages are spoken. I wouldn't be without it. Other than that, I keep it simple. "I have an app for that" has been Apple's most successful marketing campaign. In a mobile biz, I'm all about keeping it simple (safety first, always).
Have fun with your new phone.

Reply by TaxMan/NC on 10/23/10 10:09am
Msg #357884

Mapquest has a free iPhone app...

...that does turn by turn spoken directions. It works great on my iPhone. Sometimes it's a bit laggy (I already turned when it tells me "turn left on such and such") but for a free app your can't complain. Just search Mapquest Mobile in the App Store.

Reply by Jim/AL on 10/23/10 1:49pm
Msg #357909

Fav app is Tetherberry for Blackberry saving me $30 a month for a one time $50 purchase.

Could not live long w/o the email convenience.

Reply by James Dawson on 10/23/10 1:55pm
Msg #357912

I forgot...flashlight and translator (entire text) n/m