Mulit Handset Freedom Using Cell Phones

It is becoming more common, especially with younger generations, to eliminate land lines in favor of cell phones only. One drawback with this approach is you need your cell phone nearby to take a call unlike traditional phone systems. Now there are devices that connect your cell phone through a corded or cordless phone system using Bluetooth. We use the Xlink-cell Bluetooth Gateway with the Uniden DECT 6.0 Cordless Telephone System (DECT3080-3). Yet almost any telephone system will work. We have the freedom of a cordless multi-handset phone system using our cell phone line. The setup and pairing process was easy. Making and receiving calls is seamless. The cell phone simply needs to be nearby. The Xlink supports up to 3 cell phones. We already have cell phones so we save the cost of a land line.

25 Time-Tested Truths About IT Support

The article 25 Time-Tested Truths About IT Support: Read 'em and reap better productivity, service and overall performance by Robert C. Anderson deserves reading and re-reading.

iPhone

With the proliferation of iPhone applications it was time to re-evaluate the Apple iPhone 3G as a viable business mobile device. The iPhone 3G added support for Microsoft Exchange, which is important for many business users. The mail interface is good and different than the Windows Mobile alternative but not significantly better. Navigation between multiple mail accounts is cumbersome. Accepting appointments does not prompt with reply options. Alerts are not persistent, causing me to miss notices. It does not have Outlook Tasks. Although there are iPhone Apps alternatives such as KeyTasks. It still does not have tethering for Internet pass-through, which it should support considering the costly data plan. The Safari Internet browser is superior to the Windows Mobile browser. The lack of copy and paste is sorely missing. The Windows Mobile home screen with calendar and email for quick reference is preferable to the iPhone home screen. Battery life is acceptable, even with Wi-Fi and Blueetooth. At times I miss a keyboard. The feel of the iPhone in your hand is superior. The iPhone Apps make a positive difference, especially the position based applications such as AroundMe, FreeWi-Fi, Cheap Gas, and Yelp. It is not difficult to see the potential of business applications on this platform. There are trade-offs between other devices. The iPhone 3G is not a clear winner, yet the best mobile device for business.

Kindle (eBook Reader)

The Kindle: Amazon's Wireless Reading Device may seem like an unlikely purchase from someone who listens to audio books. Listening to audio books is a great time saver. However, it is not possible to bookmark, take notes, or highlight material. During and after listening to books, particularly business books, I use them as reference material. The Kindle provides a compact, portable library of reference material. With a library of books on the device, the Kindle provides search for the entire library. For example, I may want to reference information on "accountability". The Kindle quickly provides access to readings on the topic from my library. In addition, the Kindle has highlighting, bookmarking, clippings and note taking features. And when books are not available in audio format, the Kindle is my preference when reading.

Time Study

In most professions time is a valuable resource. Efficiency and productivity depends on how we manage our time. It is my experience most people do not effectively manage their time by prioritizing, delegating and leveraging tools because they are unaware of time spent on tasks. A simple method I find effective is keeping a log of activities throughout the day. For this I simply use Microsoft Excel and record all activities even a 2 minute phone call or 1 minute email reply. After doing this for several days, examine it. Analyzing your time isn't necessarily easy and may require questioning long-held assumptions. Often you do not realize how much time is spent on certain tasks. Question your priorities, identify opportunities for delegation and discover opportunities for leveraging technology. It is difficult to apply technology solutions until you have a clear understanding of the opportunities.

LinkedIn: Professional Network

Linkedin is a pervasive business network that leverages the Internet and the web. It is a good tool for maintaining and building business contacts. It syncs to Outlook so it keeps contact information current. The connections are helpful if you need a service or want a referral. While I do not use it to solicit business, it has led to sales leads. I simply hope people think of Tushaus Computer Services when they need computer services. It is useful when filling job openings. The contacts provide advice. Or I provide advice which builds reputation and credibility. It is interesting to observe what other contacts or connections are doing or reading. I learn from others this way. With a public profile it increases visibility on the Internet. With links back to your web site it increases [Google] page rank. I only add people I know. It has not added unwanted email. The people in the network are respectful of others. The blog Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn by Guy Kawasaki is a useful reference for using the tool. Linkedin is a business tool worth using.

Beware of social networking overload

"Beware of social networking overload" by Eve Tahmincioglu is a msnbc article describes the traps and uses of social networking in business and career development.