Posted by 101livescan on 6/14/12 7:27am
Msg #423505

The Best Phone for NSAs

I'm getting ready to upgrade my Blackberry Curve to a "SMARTPPHONE", cuz I want to be smarter in this business with all the best tools possible.

What phones are you all using, and what are the features that called to you to help you be better at your individual businesses.

I'm not so concerned about $$ as I am features and functionalities. I also don't want a phone that dumps on me or runs out of power all the time and needs charging constantly.

TIA for your input.

Have an awesome day! Jeez, missed that shaker you all had in LA area, felt in Long Beach to Escondido...perhaps we'll be next here on the central coast.

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 6/14/12 9:00am
Msg #423514

I don't think there is one best phone. Whether or not you have to charge it all the time depends upon how many apps you are running and how you use the phone. I use Google Maps as my gps. So, yes, I have to keep it plugged in all the time. I have a Motorola Droid with a keyboard right now. It's ok for my purposes.

Reply by LKT/CA on 6/14/12 10:14am
Msg #423525

I switched from a Blackberry Style to a Samsung Transform Ultra. One feature it does not have that the BB did have is the auto shut off and turn on AND....if the alarm clock is set and the phone is off, it will not ring the alarm. The best I can do is use the "airplane mode" feature which will turn off anything needing wirelss connection. That way I can still use the alarm clock feature and the battery isn't run down from leaving the phone on all night. This lack of auto off/on option is my only gripe about this phone. It's not the top of the line, but surely is an upgrade from the BB.

Reply by RickG/CA on 6/14/12 10:17am
Msg #423526

"Best Phones" will come and go with the different seasons. It's best to select a carrier that will give you the coverage you need most and go with the phone os that meets your criteria, style, and preferances.

I live in an area on the plus side with the major carriers, so we're on the bleeding edge with regards to network upgrades and expansions etc. However, I live in a relative dead spot with all the carriers. Any of the major carriers (ATT, MetroPCS, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon) is a push as far as service quality in concerned. Voice quality, email speed, ease of use, wifi, and size are my biggest criteria for a phone.

My family plan has the major os's represented, so I get to try them all. While they are all fairly straight forward, my preference is the Windows platform.

_______

This is (a RickG cleaned up version of) a great recap of the prevailing phone os's that I read on a tech blog...

- Android is like the "trendy girl" you whisper about about with your closest friends. You can do just about anything you want with it, dress it up and experiment until your fingers bleed.

- IOS is like the "girl next door" you can have fun with it, take to the park, introduce your parents, and it'll always be there though thick and thin everyone says how nice it is.

- WP is like the "exotic girl" you want to come closer to, nice to look at, smooth as silk undergarments, and is very elusive, try to dress it up and it's inner beauty melts it away.

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 6/14/12 11:15am
Msg #423530

Cheryl I've had a couple of Droid's thru Verizon and my husband has a Smart Phone thru Sprint. I doubt there is a phone that will last a day without charging because the phone is constantly running checking emails. I love the new Droid 3. Good luck.

Reply by Larry/IL on 6/14/12 1:16pm
Msg #423538

I have an 2 yr old EVO4G on the Sprint network. The phone is very nice does everything I need it to do and more. I use the GPS all time and it great for emails and viewing docs.

The stock battery in my Evo 4G would die before the business day was over and sometimes sooner. Had to always be charging it! I bought bigger battery (3500ma) for about $58. It was the best cell phone accessory I ever bought, period! I can leave my bluetooth, GPS and 4G on all day, have several lengthy conversations, and even suf the web and the battery does not need to be recharged till the next day!


IMO, Determine what is the best provider, with the best coverage for your area and only consider smart phones that work with that provider. I deeply regret that I switched from AT&T and will go back soon as I can later this year. Sprint had good service in my area that deteriorated over a few months. I had serious problems with service even missing calls for closings. I was calling them everyday and was told numerous conflicting excuses. I was even outright lied to. For me, Sprint is the worst!

Just do the best research you can do for whats available now and buy the best phone you can. Battery life is important but not if optional larger batteries are available and your willing to pay for one. I have been looking at the new Samsungs, very good reviews.

Reply by Jessica Ward on 6/14/12 2:24pm
Msg #423551

I love my iPhone for NSA work. I love that it has enough onboard memory to open a set of loan docs (I can even print from it!). Ever have those times when you have the sense something is missing--you want to know if your printer goofed or if the lender really failed to include a critical document, or if it was really scanned as poorly as it printed? You can check on the road!

Here's what I use it for:
--Turboscan--scan and faxback multi-page PDFs from the road.
--Check docs/printing
--Maps, Google Earth, navigation,
--Paypal and Squareup payment processing for GNW
--USAA insurance app for filing auto claims (somebody hits my car about once a year... I can file the claim with this app before the troopers arrive, it's that easy!)
--Email/calendar/contacts sync with Outlook and my google backups
--Great camera for ID Copies
--Broadcast a secure wirless connection for e-signs. Great connection, high speed, extremely easy to set up,
--iTunes for podcasts in the car
--Astrid for "to do list" items
--Find my iPhone app lets me render the phone unusable in case it is lost/stolen.
--Fedex and UPS apps for finding shipping locations/dropboxes and pickup times in towns I don't know very well.
--Yelp to find a decent, affordable, gluten-free meal on the road.
--The flashlight app is great in the wintertime for finding steps on funny porches, reading house numbers, or finding my keys when I drop them under the car accidentally---that's happened a few times!
--Netflix for killing time between closings with Macgyver re-runs.
--LogmeIn app lets me log into and use my home PC from anywhere that I have mobile phone service (AWESOME).

I'm not an apple fan, I'm not a technology early-adopter, but I do LOVE this phone.

Reply by Jessica Ward on 6/14/12 2:29pm
Msg #423554

Also, I typically charge only every other day.

My battery life on the iPhone is fantastic. I use it all the time, and unless I'm using it to watch movies (yes, I do!) then I don't have to charge frequently. When I do charge it, it's an easy USB plug that I can plug in in the car, at my desk, into any other computer, or into a little solar backup battery whoosie-whatsie that I purchased for about $14 before my trip to Africa.

Also, my iPhone is with Verizon, which has excellent coverage in Western Washington.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 6/14/12 11:33pm
Msg #423591

Re: Also, I typically charge only every other day.

Jessica, what kind of data plan did you get with Verizon? I heard that many/most(?) carriers are discontinuing unlimited data plans and, with all the apps and large attachments we use, I'm wondering what the impact of that could be. Frankly, it's hard for me to get my head around how much data usage 2G would allow before additional charges start kicking in.

I have an unlimited plan with my carrier (T-Mobile), so if they manage to stay in business, I may try to stay with them when my current contract is up later this year.

Reply by RickG/CA on 6/14/12 2:28pm
Msg #423553

Regarding Battery Use

Since moving to the "smart phone" battery drain has always been an issue. With moderate use the best I could get was about 6-8 hours before the battery died at the most convenient time. I purchased additional batteries with a separate charger. I have a charged battery in the car, in my bag as well as the one in the phone. At night I charge the phone and put any used battery on the charger. I rotate between the 2 regularly. Once in a while I'll use the 3rd if I'm streaming music/videos or catching up on NPR's Car Talk, which sadly will end it's 35 year run this September.

Reply by 101livescan on 6/14/12 6:47pm
Msg #423578

THANK YOU ALL!