Jott for Blackberry - The Secret To Speaking Your Emails
By Reggie · June 8, 2008
In March I started using Jott for Blackberry beta, in hopes that I could save time by replying to email with my voice via my Blackberry. To my surprise this voice to email application was remarkable and accurate. Although as I’ve been talking with real estate agents I’m learning that many have not heard of this useful technology. That’s unfortunate because as a busy real estate agent you are probably sending many emails while out of the office and maybe even while you are on the road. Needless to say, emailing while driving can be dangerous. If that email needs to be sent immediately, using Jott for Blackberry you can simply attach your Bluetooth headset and speak your email while keeping both hands on the steering wheel. (We are not endorsing emailing while driving…simply sharing the technology. )
How do I get started?
To start, Jott for Blackberry supports series 8800, 8300 (Curve), and 8100 (Pearl) models. If you are using one of these devices, simply visit www.jott.com/bb on your mobile phone and download the application. Note that once Jott for Blackberry is installed you will need an active Jott account to use the service. Easily get an account by visiting Jott online or from your mobile device after downloading the application.
Once Jott for Blackberry has been installed, you are ready to start sending emails by voice. Locate an email you would like to reply to and choose “Reply with Jott” or “Reply to All with Jott” from the top of the reply menu. Next Jott will speak a welcome message and ask you to press any key (except hang up) to begin recording. Then speak your email and keep it to less than 30 seconds in length. Once finished speaking your email, simply hold down any button to send. You will also have an option to preview the recorded audio before sending the message. You’ll notice that within a few minutes of sending the voice message it will be converted to text and your recipients(s) will have been emailed from you. The email will contain the text version of your audio, a message saying “sent with Jott” and the audio file. You will also receive a copy of the email for your records.
If you are looking for audit trails of sent and received Jott emails for your real estate business, consider using the Jott Gadget for your iGoogle homepage. With this gadget you’ll be able to easily view the last 7 Jott’s sent and last 7 Jotts received right on your homepage. Learn more about iGoogle Gadget for Jott here.
*Keep in mind that once Jott for Blackberry gets out of beta it will turn into a paid service. But for now this technology is free to use.
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Tags: reply, jott, bluetooth headset, mobile device, sending emails, blackberry
This is a neat idea but far from prime time. Have you tested this from the field?
- Most clients when opening a message will have no idea that they need to click on the attached file. Many will think it is spam.
- Try sending a jott and opening it in a blackberry. Very confusing.
Love your blog though for leading edge ideas.
Jeff
Hey Jeff,
That’s what I thought until I used it. Check this out, here is how it works:
1. I start by selecting an email as I usually do to reply, and then click Reply with Jott.
2. Press any key once, and talk.
3. Then press and hold key to send..
That’s it. Then Jott automatically converts to text for the recipient to read. They do not need to play the attached audio file.
-Reggie
I have this installed on my BlackBerry Pearl. It actually works surprisingly well. It is better for short emails that have very ordinary words in them, but I think it is pretty cool. The only problem I have is remembering to use it. It is sometimes hard to think about replying to an email with a voice transcription. Accuracy is pretty darn good, though.
I just ditched my pearl for a iPhone. Anything like this for an iPhone? I am always answering emails on the run. This sounds like a great feature!
@Daniel - I agree with the remember to use it part! I’ve been typing out emails for so long, that’s my natural reaction. But like you I have found it to be very accurate.
@Brendan - At this time I do not know of a similar application for the iPhone. However I’m sure that’s only a matter of time. If I hear, you can bet I’ll share it.
Are you getting ready to hear Steve Jobs at the 2008 World Wide Developers conference? I hear that he will be not only introducing 3G, and exchange support, but Video Chat for the iPhone. Cool…looks like I may be able to start recommending the iPhone for Real Estate agents.
I will try it again. All the messages I sent came through as attachments.
[...] blogs to read for Real Estate Technology. The post that Reggie put together entitled Reggie Jott for Blackberry - The Secret To Speaking Your Emails is a great walk-through for how to use it, and some of the cautions to make sure it’s works [...]
[...] Jott is one of those technologies that I love: You make a phone call, they transcribe it and email it. Perfect for when you aren’t near a computer but “need” to send an email (or post on your blog or send out a Tweet or…). MyTechOpinion gets you set up on your blackberry. [...]