A question I often hear when training new clients is: “What cell
phone should I buy? What’s the best choice for me, among all the
options?”
While there is no one universal
answer, there is one flavor of phone that has proven to be the best
option for productivity, and that is a Windows-based Smartphone. While
the make and models vary, the “guts” of these phones are the same. They
all run a mobile variation of the familiar Windows operating system. Be
aware that each cell phone provider sells a different selection of
Windows based Smartphones. In my case, my provider is T-Mobile, and I
use a T-Mobile Dash. For other providers there are many excellent
options such as a Motorola Q or the Palm 700W series
.
Smartphones make an excellent choice for productivity because they
communicate almost flawlessly with Windows based programs, in
particular Microsoft Outlook. Since Windows is by far the most
universal system in business, the Smartphone is a logical choice. When
you connect your Smartphone to a computer, not only does it charge, but
all of the contacts, tasks, and calendar items, transfer immediately
and effortlessly from your computer to your phone. Because the phone
itself is based on a Windows system, the menus are familiar and easy to
use. Additionally, for those who prefer to receive their email via
phone, Windows Smartphones can handle all your email needs with ease.
There are other types of phones that people often ask me about, and
I’ll explain briefly why I don’t find these to be as valuable in terms
of productivity.
Android (Droid, G1, etc.)
Google’s Android operating system for mobile devices is Open Source.
What does open source mean? Simplified it means “free to use.” Companies
like Verizon, Nokia, and HTC don’t need to pay Google to install the OS on
thier phones. This is a big reason why you are going to see a LOT more
Android-based phones in the coming year. Android is very similar to the
iPhone in terms of user experience but edges it out slightly in terms of true
business productivity. If you are already using Google (a fairly good system)
for your calendar,contacts, and tasks , then this is a no-brainer: get an
Android based phone.
Blackberry
– The Blackberry was the beneficiary of good marketing, and the term
Blackberry is often mistakenly used to describe any kind of Smartphone.
I would have to say that a Blackberry is a solid second place performer
when it comes to productivity. However, it doesn’t sync as seamlessly
with Outlook, and because the menu features are so different, some
people find it difficult to use Blackberries. You may find just a
mental switching cost increase because of trying to think about the
differences between using a computer and using a Blackberry phone.
However, it does handle tasks, contacts, and calendar items fairly
well, and I do have a few clients who use them with success.
Palm
- Without reservation I discourage people from using a Palm-based
phone for productivity. First of all, the sync and communication
between Palm-based phone and a Windows based computer is poor and
unpredictable. This tricky relationship between Palm and Windows is
bound to cause lots of problems, and be a tech support nightmare in the
long run. Palm does include software for your desktop, but this
software is poorly designed and places too many arbitrary limits on how
you organize your life. (For example, Palm not allowing a large number
of custom categories, something I find is essential for good
productivity techniques.) The biggest problem though with a palm is
the system itself. Essentially, Palm based phones and planners are
using a technology that is over a decade old. It may have been cutting
edge in 1996, but now it is slow and it is cumbersome, and I find it
difficult for most people to use.
iPhone
- There is a lot to love about the iPhone, in terms of its visual
appeal and its tactile response. It is a beautiful, eye-catching phone
that is fairly easy to use. However, iPhone was built primarily for
multimedia such a music, videos, and web surfing. Clients I have worked
with who have the iPhone bump up against Apple not putting much thought
into the productivity tools of contacts, tasks, and calendar. Also,
while the iPhone syncs with Mac’s iCal program and even Microsoft
Entourage, the sync is very questionable and has many missing features
that are a frustration for my clients. Trying to sync an iPhone with
Microsoft based operating system is even more problematic. iPhone does
have one advantage, in that it comes with the “Visual Voicemail”
feature, allowing you to read the “gist” of voicemails without having
to listen to them. (However, a similar feature can be added to any
phone at www.youmail.com.) The bottom line: if you are interested
in impressing your friends and watching videos and surfing the
Internet with your phone, then the iPhone is a fun choice. If you are
interested in using your phone to enhance your productivity and stay
on top of all the things that you need to do, the iPhone is limited.
Please also watch this video for more information:
http://www.davecrenshaw.com/blog/video-training-how-to-avoid-getting-lost-in-translation/
Updated Nov 11, 2009
- Added information about Android
- Recommended YouMail instead of CallWave
- Added link to video
Posted in: Productivity, Technology
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