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| Calling up critical data |
May 2, 2005 |
Nowadays, it’s difficult to imagine a world without converged devices...even the common toaster promises much more than just warm bread. And while some of us still yearn for simpler times, businesses today would be hard pressed to claim a preference for multi-step processes instead of the efficiency of all-in-one.
One device that has made a significant evolution from single function to multi-use is the mobile phone. No longer considered “just for emergencies” on the road, select mobile phones have now been elevated in status to smartphone, and have quickly become a necessity for anyone who does business outside of the conventional office space.
Take for example the stylish, and truly smart Treo 650 smartphone by palmOne. Not only are the standard features more robust, for instance the camera takes stills and video, and the memory can be expanded to 1 GB, but there is virtually nothing users have to do without while on the road.
Today, the most in-demand productivity applications include short messaging service (SMS), multi-media messaging service (MMS) and e-mail—all standard features of the Treo 650. And while e-mail still remains the preferred method of communication, SMS is a failsafe option in areas of lesser coverage, and serves as a handy tool to communicate in meetings and can serve as an effective search tool through Google SMS.
The Treo 650’s e-mail functionality is simple, yet powerful.
Personal e-mail can be managed with Versamail for POP3 or IMAP mail accounts, while business or enterprise e-mail easily handles attachments and works with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, providing direct corporate e-mail and calendar synchronization with no additional software required. The Treo 650 also runs on the EDGE network—the fastest wireless network available on the market today.
MMS stands out as one of the most singular features of the Treo 650—it allows users to send and receive photos, video, sound and text files to e-mail addresses or a similarly equipped mobile phone.
Popular uses include slide shows of different products at trade shows, maps of meeting locations, or video of keynote speeches or portions of meetings that need to be recorded accurately.
Another technology incorporated into the Treo 650 that sets it apart is Bluetooth. Bluetooth allows the Treo 650 to connect easily to a GPS system, or a Bluetooth-enabled headset for conference calls in the car. In fact, more and more cars are being built with Bluetooth technology, allowing smartphones to connect to the car’s stereo and microphone and allowing users to talk without a headset.
Lastly, the Treo 650 offers seamless use of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel documents with Documents to Go software.
Docs to Go allows users to read, create and edit these documents in their native format, as well as send them via e-mail attachments.
The Documents to Go software is exclusive to palmOne devices, giving users a distinct productivity advantage on the road.
While smartphones have a way to go before they replace the laptop, they have key advantages (see sidebar), especially when in use on the road. With future technologies incorporated into the device, such as RSS feeds, and more sophisticated use of existing technologies like Bluetooth, it’s possible that the term all-in-one may mean “only one” sooner rather than later.
KEY ADVANTGES OF SMARTPHONES
Treat smartphones as secure corporate assets that keep e-mail and access to information running all the time:
. No cables or cradles for corporate syncs—you are always wirelessly up to date
. E-mail can be delivered as fast as it arrives on your company’s server
. The whole system works when you don’t, so your smartphone gets updated while you’re offline
. Lower cost compared to laptops. Supremely portable
. Development staff can write custom applications or choose among the 20,000 existing Palm OS applications
For more information go to http://www.seeTreo.com
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