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Blackberry vs. iPhone: One Technoman’s Experience

By: Reggie · Posted on August 7, 2008 · 18 Comments

It may go with saying that I’m one of those individuals who waited outside AT&T for my new iPhone. But this was not just a simple switch from one technology to another.  My Blackberry has been a godsend over the years. I truly loved the mobile device. Email and calendar couldn’t have been easier. The device had always been stable.  But what was it that made me want to switch? Before I answer that, let me back peddle a bit!

Luckily NikNik got the iPhone at the same time!

Luckily for me, NikNik and I got our phones at the same time.  Although mine had terrible reception from the start.  But the issue was strange; I would go from 5 bars to no service very quickly.  When I compared it with NikNik’s, the difference was night and day. Her iPhone had great reception.  I immediately went to AT&T to let them know that I had a defective phone. However the salesman at the counter told me it was a bad SIM card. So he added a new SIM card and sent me off on my way. Within 5 minutes I knew my iPhone was not fixed. I still had “NO SERVICE!”  So now I’m back at AT&T for the 3rd time in as many days so we could take a closer look at my iPhone reception problems. This time the sales associate tells me that [Read more...]

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Jott for Blackberry – The Secret To Speaking Your Emails

By: Reggie · Posted on June 8, 2008 · 10 Comments

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 [Read more...]

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Mobile Agent Tip: Sync Microsoft Outlook Calendar with Google Calendar

By: Reggie · Posted on March 7, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Many real estate agents love the simplicity of Microsoft Outlook. Yet real estate is very much an active, fast moving business. It’s likely that when you need your calendar most is when you are in the field. Does this sound familiar? If so you’re in luck, introducing Google’s new Calendar Sync Tool. Now sync your primary calendar’s events between Microsoft Outlook’s Calendar and Google’s Calendar. Then use your Blackberry, iPhone, Treo to access.

Download the Google Calendar Sync

  1. Click the download link above and then click “Save File.”
  2. Click “OK”.
  3. Read through the Google Calendar Sync Terms of Service, and click “I Agree.”
  4. Continue to follow through the Installation Options and click “Install” to finish.
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Calling All Mobile Agents: Synchronize Your Google Calendar With Your Blackberry

By: NikNik · Posted on December 13, 2007 · 6 Comments
For those real estate agents that already utilize their Google Calendar, you can add one more benefit to the growing list. Now Blackberry users can access their Google Calendar anytime, anywhere. And technology savvy real estate pros can organize their broker’s tours, home inspections, signings, and more…on the fly! Streamlining your business events will afford you more time and better communication. Here is a quick list of suggestions for use:
  • Share your calendar with teammates and assistants.
  • Import activities from Outlook.
  • Receive email or mobile text-message reminders for events on your calendar.
  • Create a special marketing calendar for each listing, and share it with the homeowner using the “send to a friend” feature.
  • Use the invite feature to email special invites for a preview of newly listed homes (Google Calendar keeps track of RSVPs).
  • Schedule your “blog posting plan” to keep content ideas flowing and prepared for upcoming posts.

To become even more organized and rid yourself of tardy excuses, simply visit http://m.google.com/sync in your mobile browser to download and install the Google Sync for mobile application. Once installation is complete, click on the Google sync icon and sign in to your Google Account. Now that’s efficient!

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Blackberry Adds Wi-Fi; Saving Real Estate Agents Money

By: Chad A. Johnson · Posted on October 6, 2007 · 3 Comments
At first glance, the addition of Wi-Fi technology on a mobile phone doesn’t seem like that big a deal. Wi-Fi has been in laptops for years and Blackberries already use cell phone signals to provide Internet access.

Why would a real estate agent care about Wi-Fi on a Blackberry? Does free, unlimited Wi-Fi calling interest you?

When connected to a Wi-Fi signal, both the Blackberry Curve 8320 and Blackberry 8820 can use Internet based calling systems that allow you to talk without using voice or data minutes. This can mean a real savings to real estate agents.

Think of all of the times that you use your cell phone at home, the office or at a local coffee shop. Most likely, all of these places have a Wi-Fi signal that you can access. In fact, many cities are adding Wi-Fi signals that would allow for free calling throughout the city.

With Wi-Fi capable phones, real estate agents will be able to purchase less expensive cell phone plans. There is the potential to save hundreds of dollars each year.

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Google Mobile Maps Technology Utilizes GPS

By: Chad A. Johnson · Posted on July 29, 2007 · 2 Comments

I have to admit that I was a bit put off when the Blackberry Curve (8300) came out so shortly after I purchased my Blackberry 8800. As with many advances in technology, it’s smaller size and the addition of a 2 megapixel camera, 3.5mm headset jack, and bluetooth stereo made it seem to be a far superior smartphone. This all changed for me this morning.

I have been a huge fan of the Google Mobile applications ever since Reggie reported on the service in his post, FREE Google Maps for your Mobile Device. I use it to get driving directions, find businesses and check traffic conditions. It truly is an indispensable program for anyone with a compatible smartphone.

Yesterday, I upgraded to the latest version of Google Mobile Maps for the Blackberry 8800 and got a pleasant surprise. This latest version takes full advantage of the Blackberry 8800’s GPS functionality. Now, when I open Google Mobile Maps, it shows me my current location (within 3 meters)! This is huge, especially for someone without GPS technology in their car. I can now search for an address or business (by name or business type) and get turn-by-turn driving directions from my current location.

The Blackberry 8800 comes with a navigation application installed, Telenav. While Telenav probably has its strengths, it requires a paid service. The $10 per month fee is not much, but the average real estate agents has so many subscription fees for different services and memberships that it can really add up at the end of the year.

While I have only mentioned the Blackberry 8800 (AT&T), those with the new Blackberry 8830 (Verizon), Blackberry 8800 (T-Mobile), Samsung BlackJack, Helio’s Ocean and other GPS enabled phones can take advantage of this great new functionality, as well.

To get the Google Mobile Maps application, go to http://mobile.google.com/ from your smartphone’s browser. Download the Google Mobile Maps Tip Sheet here.

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New Email Stationery Technology for Real Estate Agents

By: Reggie · Posted on July 6, 2007 · 8 Comments
Email stationery has been growing in popularity over the past few years. Real Estate agents like this particular technology because it allows them to brand each email with their photo, logo and website links to drive consumers back to key features on their website such as search the MLS and featured properties. Even prospecting features like newly listed homes by email, buyer/seller tips, ask the expert, etc. Think of email stationery as a simplistic form of viral marketing!

The email stationery technology became largely popular because of Microsoft Outlook support. However the challenge has always been that if you send emails from a blackberry, cell phone or other text email client you will not be able to take advantage of email stationery because of its HTML requirements. That is until now! inboxFX has created a very interesting web-based technology to tackle this very issue.

inboxFX, a Canadian company, has designed their technology to wrap their custom email stationery around your plain text email message after it’s been sent, but before it arrives in the recipients inbox. The inboxFX solution works in two ways. First you can choose to use the inboxFX SMTP mail server as your outgoing email server and it will automatically wrap your stationery immediately after you click the send button. However if you use Microsoft exchange technology, or would like to selectively choose who can see the email stationery, you may want to use their second option.

For this simplistic approach you can send to any email address and simply add “.inboxfx.com” to the end of the recipients email address. For example if I wanted to send my stationery to john@acme.com, I would send the email to john@acme.com.inboxfx.com and the template email stationery would be added before delivery. This solution will work with any email system…even from your MLS.

inboxFX pricing is volume-based, to see the pricing matrix click here. For a series of inboxFX email stationery examples, click here.

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Real Estate Agents with Verizon: It’s Time to Upgrade

By: Chad A. Johnson · Posted on July 3, 2007 · 8 Comments
Up until now, all of the cool, new Blackberry smartphones that we have covered (Real Estate Agents Catch the Curve and The New Blackberry 8800: Not Just For Work) have only been available from AT&T Wireless (formerly Cingular). As with the recent iPhone release, it seems that AT&T prides itself on offering the latest new phones first. Fortunately for real estate agents on the Verizon Wireless network, the next generation of Blackberry device is now available.

For you technology savvy real estate agents, the Blackberry 8830 World Edition is Verizon’s first Blackberry device to offer the new trackball navigation, brilliant screen and multimedia functionality. Based on the now 3 month old Blackberry 8800 model, the 8830 will appear virtually identical except for the device’s silver enclosure. The only real difference between the 2 models is that of the 8830’s more advanced network capability. As the “World Edition” moniker would imply, Blackberry 8830 can be used overseas. The 8830 can also access the Verizon EV-DO network, giving the Blackberry 8830 faster web browsing than that of the Blackberry 8800 which is limited to Cingular’s EDGE network.

While the new Blackberry 8830 World Edition doesn’t have the ultra compact size or 2.0 megapixel camera of the Blackberry Curve, it is still an outstanding smartphone device. It is also surprising to see Verizon offer the new Blackberry device so quickly after AT&T introduced is sister device, the Blackberry 8800. It took then over a year and a half to follow-up AT&T’s (Cingular’s) Blackberry 8700 with their own Blackberry 8703e. By the time Verizon customers had that device, it seemed out of date.