Catching Up

As I’ve said before, when busy it’s hard to keep up with blogging when you’re busy. If it’s not a scheduled priority it can easily get pushed aside, which is what happened with me. When not working on paid articles I’ve been wrapping up my first ebook and companion website, a guide to Essential Technology for Mobile Professionals, like those of you in real estate. More on that in a future post.

While on the topic of ebooks, here’s a freebie you amy want to take a look at: “Think twice before you sign anything again: 12 Business Cases for Digital Signatures” It’s a free pdf from digital signature solutions vendor Arx. If you’re not yet well versed in the advantages of digital signatures, it does a good job outlining the cost savings and efficiency gained by migrating to digital signatures for contracts and documents.

Since my last entry, Apple did unveil its much anticipated tablet, appropriately called the iPad. I held off writing about it immediately because, unlike the Nexus, it won’t be in stores for a while.


First impression: Too early to tell how practical it will be for real estate and other mobile professions until the working version is out. But for the home, or office, the concept seems a winner to me: a hand held window on he world of digital content. I expect this or something like it will one day be as a common a fixture as the telephone of old, reliability and expectedly there when you need it, whatever your purpose. More after it’s actual release. For now I’d hold off pre-ordering it as a mobile tool until there’s a chance for a little hands-on experience in your local Apple store.

Short takes
I get releases and pitches from start-up and smaller companies on a regular basis as they try to spread the word out about new products and services.When possible,I pass them along to alert you to solutions which may be of help. No quid pro quo, just putting some information out there to help them generate some interest....

Fabusend offers what it calls a “smart letterhead” solution for customized email. Features include cutomizable email letterheads with graphics and interactive links, with built-in tracking capabilities so you know who or when your messages were read. An annual subscription for individual users starts at $199...Ebroker House has developed a Web-based business management solution for agents and brokers. Includes online tools for managing contacts, listings, offers, reimbursemnts, documents,etc. They’re offering a 30-day free tial, then subscriptions start at $29.99/month...If you’d rather read than listen to voice mail messages, Phonetag automatically converts voicemail to text or email, then forwarding it to your cell, smartphone or account. Try it for free for a week. An unlimited monthly plan cots $29.95....LoopNet has lauched an iPhone app for commercial real estate searches. It uses the on the iPhone’s built-n GPS locating capabilities to retrieve info on area commercial real estate in the U.S. and Canada.

Year of the Smartphone...or Tablet...or Smartbook?

With Google’s official rollout of its Nexus smartphone this past Tuesday, the company upped the ante what is certainly going to be one of the most hotly contested markets this year: smartphones.

That’s good news for real estate professionals as the smartphone, in design and concept, is a product which makes sense. Having your “office” productivity tools at hand, with easy access to the Web, simply makes it easier to do your job away from your desk.

Google’s Nexus, running it’s Android Operating System, offers some innovation and solid features which make it a real contender in the category: 1GHZ processor, 3.7 inch touchscreen interface; 5MP camera/camcorder; GPS; WiFI and Bluetooth support; and speech to text conversion for composing messages without a touch.

Clearly the Nexus and the host of new smartphones coming in 2010, all want the iPhone’s crown as perceived category leader, though Blackberry still dominates in smartphone market share. (The iPhone’s limited availability through AT&T is certainly a contributing factor.)

Looking ahead, though, another recent survey found most consumers wanting an iPhone device, followed by one running Android.

With so much growth potential in the smartphone market, you’ll have plenty of choices this year as the category continues to evolve and attract more vendors and models. But you might want to wait a just little longer before buying into any of latest hype.

Wait to see what Apple brings to market in its much anticipated new tablet. It’s expected for Jan. 27 and speculation about what it will be runs wild. It could mark the next wave in mobile technology, or strengthen the case that the smartphone is the one solution every mobile professional needs.

The biggest problem with smartphones is their small screen size; the problem for netbooks, and tablets seen to date, is their larger screen size dictates a form which is just too large for a pocket or purse. Now if something could bridge that gap, and deliver everything the mobile professional needs in performance, connivence, productivity and portability, it truly will be the one device worth having.
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While researching the Web, I can across this interesting article regarding the actual cost of smartphone ownership and thought it worth passing along.

Need a little direction for GPS guide

For the January 2010 buying guide for Realtor magazine online I’ll be looking at “tech tools for getting there”—GPS navigation systems and services.

Reader input always helps make these stories accurate reports on what real estate processionals are using and why. So, I welcome comments from Realtors about your GPS solution.

Have you tried, do you have a preference for a dedicated navigation system, or the services available over your cellphone? Found an innovative way to integrate GPS into your real estate career? Send comments to me, antoniak at dtccom.net . Just tag it GPS in the subject line

I read all responses, and, based on trends, follow up with a few for interviews and inclusion in the article.

Thanks.