Going mobile

Which gadget is right for you?

by Michael Antoniak   Want to make more productive use of the hours away from your office, meeting with buyers and sellers?

There’s an abundance of mobile solutions to help you through the day and keep you within reach of all who need to reach you. You can’t do without your cell phone, but do you want more from your phone or something else to bring along? Vendors now offer so many portable gadgets, you may feel overwhelmed with options.

There is no "one size fits all" in mobile technology. If your mobile solution is not a good match, complementing your professional style, you won’t realize a full return on your investment. Your choice should be guided by how you work, what information you need in the field, and ways to enhance the real estate services you provide.

Some may argue nothing short of a notebook PC, loaded with all your software, is required. Others can adopt the "less is more" approach and settle on a compact solution that delivers only resources you will actually use, be it contact and calendar information, e-mail, or wireless access to the MLS.

Think in terms of your primary need. A PDA with calling capability is not necessarily the same as a phone that also functions as a PDA. And just because a compact device can display Web pages doesn’t mean it will be an enjoyable experience.

If you want wireless access, choices will be limited to the devices area service providers support. With any wireless product, the real cost of ownership is determined by the long-term service package. Agents and brokers working within a city will find a greater selection than those roaming rural areas.

Whichever mobile tool intrigues you, get hands-on experience before you commit. Lease before buying, if possible. If the product isn’t comfortable in hand, or you find it awkward to enter or retrieve data, you won’t use it much.

Here’s a quick look at some current options.

PDAs

Best considered a mobile extension of your primary computer, a personal digital assistant gives quick access to vital contact and schedule information and is a solution for taking notes on the fly. Add some software, -and the PDA can serve as anything from a real estate calculator to a portable catalog loaded with the latest MLS data.

Currently, the most software is available for PDAs running the Palm operating system. Pricing starts at under $100 for a basic model like the Palm Zire and climbs to the $300 range depending on processor speed, memory, type and size of screen, and expansion options. A Palm-based PDA from Palm, Sony, or Handspring is pretty compact, easy to operate, offers long battery life, and has the best selection of general and real estate-specific applications.

For Windows compatibility in a handheld computer, consider a Pocket PC device. Most companies that make Windows computers now include a Pocket PC model in their lines. Pricing starts in the $250 range for Dell’s Axim X5 with a color screen, expansion slots, and a 300MHz processor.

All Pocket PCs run special versions of the Windows operating system and Microsoft Office applications. Aftermarket software selection is limited, but growing.

If you want more than the core information-management functions of a PDA, you should consider one of the combination products discussed a little later.

Mobile messengers

If you rely on e-mail as a critical communications link, you need some level of e-mail access in the field. "Always on" instant messaging units such as the Blackberry products employ "push" technology. Incoming messages are forwarded to the handheld over a wireless service network, and you can respond immediately from the handheld. Extremely compact, they are practical for those serving volatile markets where closing a home sale or capturing a prospect turns on how quickly you communicate with buyers and sellers. When you require more than just e-mail from wireless Web access, you’ll want more in a handheld.

Cellular cameras

Over the last year, cell phones with built-in or snap-on cameras have appeared. Don’t consider these a replacement for your digital camera–yet. They capture low-resolution images best viewed on compatible phones or in e-mail. You can’t include these pictures in a brochure, but they will suffice when you want to convey the appeal of a new listing as quickly as possible.

The majority of phone vendors should offer some version of the phone camera before the year’s end. Most, like the Sony Ericsson T68i, which originated the concept here, should sell in the $200 range.

Combo phones and PDAs

Once you decide you want some or all of the functionality described above, you’ve entered the realm of multifunction or "convergence" devices.

These hybrids–PDAs with wireless-communications capabilities and cell phones with built-in PDAs–combine calling, messaging, information management, even a camera in one package. Most are bulkier than any dedicated device and consume battery power quickly when doing the multitasking they are promoted to deliver.

Currently, the smallest of this class is the Danger Hiptop (available as the $199 T-Mobile Sidekick) for wireless voice, text, and e-mail communications. Models that evolved from PDAs like Handspring’s Treo products or Audiovox Thera, $800, may seem a bit awkward to use as a phone without plugging in a headset and microphone. Conversely, something like the Kyocera Smartphone 7135, a $500 full-featured Palm-compatible cellular handset, is best considered a phone first.

An all-in-one may be all you need for a mobile real estate solution, as long as you can accept the principal risk of any multi-function device: if one component fails, you could lose all its functional value until the unit is repaired or replaced.

Michael Antoniak is a freelance writer based in Dowelltown, Tennessee. He writes regularly about technology and its applications for the print and online editions of REALTOR® magazine and other publications.

Photo © Comstock Images.

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