Ready to trade in your cell phone and PDA for a smartphone? Let’s start with the basics…
What is a smartphone?
A Smartphone is your cell phone and PDA (Portable Data Assistant) joined together, allowing verbal communication over the phone and visual communication over email and text messages. Other capabilities include Internet, fax, and data transfers between your office computer and smartphone. There are pros and cons to switching, just like anything else.
The professionals
With just a smartphone, there’s one less item to carry or forget. You have access to the Internet for directions, email or quick information. Reduced versions of certain computer applications are available. By using a keyboard instead of a phone keypad, it becomes easier to type long messages.
The cons
The initial cost is approximately three times more than a normal mobile phone (including additional fees for access to the network service). If you’re set up on a small mobile phone, the larger smartphone can feel a bit bulky. It can take some getting used to using it, and text-heavy messages can be a bit difficult for little ones to read. Finding your way around and understanding all the features has a bit of a learning curve. So now that you’re ready to invest in a smartphone, which one will you buy, and what factors affect your decision?
Services contract
Before you decide which hardware to buy, take a close look at the plans offered by various service providers. If you buy the hardware and the plan together, you can get good discounts for a bundle plan. Make sure your plan covers usage, as the charges can be a costly lesson. You’ll want to know exactly what you’ll be paying before the bill arrives.
Select a model
After you find a plan you like, the selection of a model will narrow down to just a few. What features can you live with? An MP3 player and camera can be nice features, but large files can fill up your memory and Internet browsing can be slow.
Testing the smartphone
Leave time for gaming and window shopping, to make sure your smartphone is comfortable to use. If not, you may consider adding a Bluetooth device. Feel its weight too. It’s great to have a lot of memory, but if the device is too cumbersome to carry with you, then you won’t use it. See how things are organized on the phone. Does your organization make sense to you? Can you find what you are looking for? You may want to consider purchasing software to better organize it your way.
Synchronize your smartphone
Evaluate software options to handle the synchronization of contacts and other data with your or your organization’s existing systems. While there is free software available on the Web, the current standard is Microsoft Windows Mobile for Smartphones 5.0. For a review of smartphones that come with Microsoft Windows Mobile, visit the Microsoft website. It is advisable to consult with your IT service provider to resolve any issues that may arise with the integration of the new systems.
Many companies are now seeing the opportunity to use a smartphone for mobile workers. If you travel frequently, consider a solution that allows you to leave your heavy laptop behind. The time has come.
