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Just finished reading a timely article about cellphones in USA Today. You can access the article at  Function Fatique . It brings to bear a complaint I hear in my technology classes all the time: too many functions, too hard to use - and TERRIBLE phone reception. Hopefully as we get more tech savvy we can demand more functionality from the tools we need to be using everyday . . . effectively.

I am a big devotee of a convergence device - handheld and cellphone. I use a TREO, but it can be windows based or a Blackberry. We all need to be connected to our clients all the time.

More lead management systems are able to send text to voice messages to our cell phones as well as emails and text messages. It is all about being first to get back and Just in Time Marketing. Be able to send information when you have it in front of you.

Just a short rant - read the article. Interesting.

If you are ready to upgrade your cell phone or handheld, you should consider the popular TREO, a convergence model – which is a cell phone combined with a PDA (personal digital assistant.)

The TREO is available through Verizon, Cingular and Sprint. It is a little bigger than a cell phone but it can take the place of your laptop when you are out in the field.

Here are some of the top features for a REALTOR®.

Email – Have a copy of your emails sent to your TREO. Now that you have access you can decide whether the email needs immediate attention. If the person has put their phone number in the message you can click on it and instantly dial the person.

Photos – the TREO uses a memory stick (the sandisk) which is very common in digital cameras and other devices. You can load all your photos and even video clips for a chance encounter with a prospect.

Documents to Go – This program allows you to load any important Microsoft Office document and take it with you. This includes Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Consider doing a PowerPoint presentation on your handheld when you run into a prospective client.

Bluetooth – This is cool! Bluetooth is a wireless technology – just a chip that allows you to wirelessly connect to other Bluetooth devices up to 30 feet. Have a Bluetooth printer? Print those excel spreadsheets. Wireless Bluetooth headsets are now seen on many REALTOR’S(r) ears – blinking blue. That freedom allows you to walk around and chat without holding a phone to your ear.

Downloadable programs – the Palm OS boasts over 30,000 downloadable programs to make your life easier. Some are free, some you need to pay for. Visit a site like http://www.palmgear.com/ or http://www.handango.com/ to download some of them. Most programs give you a full version trial. If you don’t like it, just delete it! Some favorites include financial calculators, pocket quicken to keep track of costs, mps 3plyaers, and games. My favorite is TRIP – a program where I enter my mileage and when I synch to my computer it downloads into an excel spreadsheet which I give to my accountant at the end of the year.

Outlook- If you use Outlook to manage your business, whatever you add to your calendar, contacts, or tasks updates on your TREO. So you have all your office with you. It is easy to look up a phone number and dial it, dates on a calendar and what you are supposed to do today.

And . . . last but not least! Can you access your MLS via the web browser for real time information? If you are paying for a monthly data contract to access your email, the next most important feature would be to have access to your MLS.
Mobility has just gotten easier for REALTORS! Check out the new smart phones at your local cell phone provider.