Who Is Using An Iphone For Work?

CNC

which of you guys is using all these great things the Iphone has, for work? I use my calender, that is ALWAYS synched with my computers automatically. i can write parts lists and email them in seconds, and the downloadable apps are never ending. i have had it since the debuted, and have really used it for what its worth, ipod, GPS, free internet radio, sirius XM is coming out with an app soon, which will solve my problems with my subscription being mobile.

I do my time cards on it, i just wonder if you guys are, or have any cool tricks?

KennMacMoragh

I have one, I haven't figured out most the stuff on it. Yes they are cool, I like the calendar on it. But I was still a little disappointed in some of the things that are left out in iphone. No MMS, that's the option where you can send pictures in a text. I mean that was available in cell phones eight years ago, and all the cheaper phones have it now. So why would they leave it off the iphone? No built in instant messaging, unless you download the app, which doesn't work I have found. And there are a lot of other little things it doesn't have. And there have been a few instances where the software got messed up and I missed phone calls. Then I'd have to reset it to get it working again. I was thinking for a work phone, probably the Nextell is a better option, they just seem more reliable.

Oh and the bluetooth in iphone is handicap, that was kind of annoying. I wanted to be able to listen to mp3's through my bluetooth headset, but found out the bluetooth only works for making phone calls.

Winchester

I'm not using an iPhone, I am using the AT&T Tilt with Windows Mobile. It is similar in many ways. Basically like a PC vs. Mac

Calendar and everything synced with my home computer. It has Microsoft Office Mobile with word, excel, and powerpoint. It has a keyboard that kind of slides out as you tilt the phone (hence the name) and has a stylus.
Internal GPS, Internet Explorer, etc...



*It's actually a re-branded HTC tyTn II

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Ryan

ChainsawCharlie

I have the Tilt as well. I use Agendus for calender and other things. Far superior to windows and outlook. It's nice being able to write and edit excel. I don't think the iphone does that.

George Z

Our job managers have iphones (3)
We use iphones for the following:

http://www.tsheets.com/

http://mail.zoho.com/mail/login/login.jsp

http://crm.zoho.com/crm/login.sas

We work out of the CRM Calendar

I even created an application in http://creator.zoho.com/

All the above are accessible from iphones

even our work orders are used through the iphones.

You can use http://sheet.zoho.com/login.jsp?serviceurl=%2Fhome.do
for a spreadsheet, I haven't yet.

Also, I am thinking, iphone "notes" should be emailed from jobsite daily
and saved in the job folder which goes in the CRM after.

They are useful little things

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GregS

I keep looking at them and keep deciding I would break it pretty quickly.

I don't like the virtual keyboard. It doesn't feel very acurrate and I don't think it will hold up too well with dirty fingers.

I don't like that I cannot tether my laptop to it without doing a bunch of hacks that can possibly brick the phone.

Did they implement cut and paste yet?

firemike

I upgraded (well maybe not UPgraded) to the iPhone a few months ago when my 8125 (older model similar to the tilt but slid open instead) was getting tired after three years. I like the iPhone, but I am amazed at what Apple left out that is standard in most other phones. I sync with my PC's every night so the shorter talk time is not a real issue, and web browsing is so much faster with the 3G network. It doesn't have the cut/copy and paste function as my 8125 did, and can barely open but can't edit MS Office docs as of yet unless you use a web-based app doing it via HTML. You also can't save a picture if someone emails it to you, you have to forward it and save it from another computer.

As Kenn said, the bluetooth support is disappointing as well. My own feeling is the iPhone was designed more for the average consumer and not really geared towards business people. Many other contractors I know that have them say the same thing, they are dissapointed at the shortcoming of the iPhone from a "player" company like Apple. Yes, there are workwrounds for most things, and additional apps you can buy, but other phones have them already built in, and usually for less money or the same money as the iPhone.

The one feature I absolutely love with the iPhone is the voicemail system. You can pick which ones to listen to right from a menu instead of having to listen to 6 or 8 voicemails in sequence. The camera feature takes relatively nice pictures, (the 8125 took horrible pics) which is great as I don't have to carry a seperate camera anymore when I go out to look at jobs, but how Apple didn't think about a flash for it.... got me. Also, you can't run multiple applications as I could with the 8125. You have to close one to use another.

The other thing I don't like is the keypad. My other phone I could use with the stylus, a pen or pencil, a sliver of wood, etc. The iPhone (at least mine anyway) you need to use bare fingers to use it, you can't even answer it with gloves on. My other one I could use without having to take my gloves off. All in all though, it's not a bad phone, I like it but I wish Apple would have at least looked at the competition and made their phone as usefull (if not more considering they're Apple) as many of the others did for business people.

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-Mike-

Mike Finley

Hey George, I have seen you post about TSheets before. Is there system totally honor system based? Can an employee be driving to work and clock in before he gets there? Say for instance the employee is on a job himself and is supposed to be doing 8:00 - 4:30 days, he gets up late and clocks in on his phone from home?

George Z

For now the job manager signs them in at the jobsite.
Being at the jobsite, they would not be different than the job clock system.
There were times when painters arrived before the iphones,
or when we had more that 3 jobs at once, they had to call in then.

So, it is strong management and honour system sometimes,
but nobody would dare cheat now.
I just advertized for two painters, we have 56 applicants in 2 days so far.
Web applications, not resumes or phone calls.
By the way, I used (and paraphrased) 2 of your questions (best job, worst job) thanks.

You know, while still in bed in the morning, I can see who is in and where.
Another thing, job managers can check the actual hours to the budget any time. They can speed it up or relax accordingly.

I also love their customer service. These days of the token tech support from India,
these guys wouldn't leave us alone until they made sure we were running ok.
There was another person that posted in your job clock thread,
he is with them and they customized quite a bit for him.

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RobertCDF

I have the tilt as well and use it for so much work I cant imagine not using it. Every since having a real keyboard I can never go back. Of course I have been using pda's for years and years.

I would imagine the iphone would transmit audio to a stereo bluetooth headset rather than a voice headset. You might be able to get a hack for it... although if its not from apple you risk bricking your phone.

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Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
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CNC

software should not get messed up, you might have a bad phone? the MMS thing is pretty annoying especially because after all the searching i have done, there is no answer.

this is the only option

You will need to enter the 10 digit number @ ?. Use like this 9205551212@einsteinmms.com



US Based Carriers:

Alltel = *********x@message.alltel.com
Amp'd Mobile = *********x@vtext.com
AT&T = *********x@mms.att.net
Boost Mobile = *********x@myboostmobile.com
Centennial Wireless = *********x@myblue.com (added by kcirrab-this is accurate for i have centennial)
Cingular (AT&T) = *********x@mms.mycingular.com
Einstein PCS = *********x@einsteinmms.com
Nextel = *********x@messaging.nextel.com
Sprint = *********x@messaging.sprintpcs.com or *********x@pm.sprint.com
T-Mobile = *********x@tmomail.net
US Cellular = *********x@mms.uscc.net
Verizon Wireless = *********x@vzwpix.com
Virgin Mobile = *********x@vmobl.com

CNC

no cut and paste, heard theres an app for it, but m waiting for them to realease it.

i have had the same iphone since the release, and my worry was the same, that i would break it. a nice case, and a screen protector, there a tough phone, i always place mine in my front pocket, with the screen facing in. Its been unbeatable so far, taken a lot of spills. make sure to get a silicone, or rubber type cause, that protects the corners, barely changes the size.

dirty fingers? im filthy most the time, the screen is crystal, take a car key to it, and it wont scratch. i have had ALOT of smart phones, and went through them like underwear, the iphone has held up and im on a job site everyday.

my take on the keyboard? most smartphone i had the letters where right off those plastic buttons, or the buttons get grime in them, not on the iphone, its built so well i get no dust behind the glass, like on EVERY other phone i have had. the touch screen is very very accurate, typing takes a little getting used to, but once you get used to it, i can type a novel, and i use one thumb. The predictive text type spell check takes care of it quite well. plus without a keyboard, look at your screen. and less moving parts.

i think that it gets ridiculed a lot, because yes, its the iphone, theres a lot of hype, and whens theres one glitch, it gets blown up. i dont need to sell them, they have that taken care of, i just am a techi, and have used a lot, and am not biased, i just think its unbelievable when they do something, they do it pretty damn good.

GPS, ipod, youtube, free internet radio (www.pandora.com if you havent used it, its awesome) endless downloadable apps, and most are free. I just think that no other phone does it as good. you cant have everything, but its close in my opinion

CNC

heres a stylus.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cel...f/?cpg=froogle

BMAN

I love my blackberry curve and will get the new storm when i am ready.

kevins9999

Just to add to the tsheets talk... George turned me on to them as well. We do remodeling/additions/new construction - so we're using the same model - the supervisor clocks the employees in and out.

We have blackberrys, not iphones, and the regular web interface didn't cut it. So, I talked to them on the phone, and 2 weeks later I had a brand new and amazing web interface that works EXACTLY like we want it to. And, they wouldn't leave me alone until I started using it and gave them feedback. Amazing support.

They really want to make inroads in the construction industry. So, if the "clock-in by phone" model works for you, definitely give them a shot. There regular web interface (the one you'll use as a manager) is one of the coolest things out there. You can see what everyone is doing in real-time.

RenaissanceR

[deleted]

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casey344

I run an AT&T Tilt too ... love it ...

I synchronize my calendar and contacts with Act! CRM, use TomTom for my GPS and in a pinch the camera works pretty good too.

After dropping my first one in the water getting into my boat I replaced the stock clip with a leather button down pouch.

What software are you TILT people running?

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Casey

BKFranks

Still using Blackberry 8830 here. Thinking about going to the BB Storm.

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22rifle

The storm is a POS. All my friends that have them want to kill themselves. OK, not quite. But seriously, it SUCKS compared to an iPhone. I was rooting for it big time to shut the iPhone fan boys up. But that piece of crap will never do it.

Mellison

Ditto.