Business iPhone
Apple’s iPhone has taken the mobile smartphone market by storm. Carrying Apple’s exceptional design and now connected to the fast 3G networks, the iPhone is a serious business machine that is giving the Blackberry a run for its money as the favourite smartphone for business users.
To ensure that the 3G version of its iPhone could appeal equally to the consumer and business market, Apple have equipped their handset with seamless connectivity to standard business networks. The leader in this field is Microsoft’s Exchange ActiveSync platform. This technology has long provided calendar, contact and push email to smartphones using the Windows operating system and its mobile counterpart.
Apple’s iPhone can now interface with this leading business network. Apple’s handset can become your mobile business phone straight out of the box as it has compatibility with Cisco IPSec VPN (Virtual Private Networks), WAP2 Enterprise and includes 802.1X authentication for use with wireless networks.
What advantages does this offer to your business? Terry Myerson, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft Exchange says: “Early on – with Exchange Server 2003 – we recognized there was no cohesive solution for sharing information and communications securely over the air. We set out to innovate around that and the result was Exchange ActiveSync. Exchange ActiveSync enables a mobile phone to synchronize email, calendars, tasks, and contacts with Exchange Server over the air. We wanted to make sure Exchange ActiveSync was compatible with as many mobile devices as possible, so we built it on an open platform. Apple joins Motorola, Nokia, Palm, Sony Ericsson, Symbian and many others that license Exchange ActiveSync for mobile devices.”
Business Travel
Business travellers have also adopted the iPhone. The 3G model can operate in UMT/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz) and GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) compatible areas. With masses of applications available to download and install from the iPhone’s App Store, you are sure to find an application to make your road trips more productive. The iPhone is linked exclusively to the O2 mobile network. You can learn about how to take your iPhone overseas on their website.
Notable applications that you might want to try out includeFlight status so you never miss your plane again. And JetSet that enables you to keep accurate track of your expenses. The iPhone is designed to just work whichever country you happen to be in. If you do run into difficulty making calls, or connecting to the Internet, tap Settings > General > Network. You should then see all the available networks you can connect your phone to.
Best iPhone Business Apps
Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the iPhone is the ability to build an application for the phone. What this has meant is that a development frenzy has taken place since the iPhone’s launch with hundreds of individuals and professional software designers writing applications for the iPhone. Many are free, with other costing a nominal fee.
I have chosen six applications that small businesses might find useful. You can of course search the iPhone App Store yourself to locate a specific application you need. And if this doesn’t exist yet, why not write it yourself by downloading the application developer’s kit.
Having access to your business’s financial information at all times is a must. This application is basically Excel on your iPhone. It is compatible with Microsoft’s application, Apple’s Numbers spreadsheet and even Google Docs if you have moved some of your business to online applications.
Tracking your sales was elevated to a fine art when Salesforce.com arrived. It has reinforced its standing in the market over the last few years. If you already use their desktop services, you can become a mobile Salesforce.com user with this application for your iPhone.
Wi-Fi has transformed how business can operate. No longer tethered to the office, small businesses in particular have begun to reap the rewards that mobile computing can bring. Locating a strong Wi-Fi hotspot, however, can often be problematic. No need to start your laptop to find a hotspot with this handy utility.
With the Internet making every business a global enterprise being able to communicate in a number of languages is essential. There are many translator applications available for the iPhone, but TokTok is one of the best. Supported languages include Chinese, Japanese, English, French, Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Swedish, Norwegian, and more.
If your business doesn’t use Microsoft’s Exchange Server, you can still access your existing LAN (Local Area Network) securely via VPN. This handy utility does exactly what it says on the box. Gain instant access to your email, files and other resources stored on your servers. With support for thousands of users if you have them, this application is a mature VPN platform.
Making calls for free over the Internet was revolutionised when Skype arrived a few short years ago. Skype as a telecoms platform has continued to develop. With mobile call charges still quite high, any savings are welcome for all business users. Skype can be used alongside your iPhone. If you know the person you want to call is also a Skype user, why not call them virtually for free?
To ensure that the 3G version of its iPhone could appeal equally to the consumer and business market, Apple have equipped their handset with seamless connectivity to standard business networks. The leader in this field is Microsoft’s Exchange ActiveSync platform. This technology has long provided calendar, contact and push email to smartphones using the Windows operating system and its mobile counterpart.
Apple’s iPhone can now interface with this leading business network. Apple’s handset can become your mobile business phone straight out of the box as it has compatibility with Cisco IPSec VPN (Virtual Private Networks), WAP2 Enterprise and includes 802.1X authentication for use with wireless networks.
What advantages does this offer to your business? Terry Myerson, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft Exchange says: “Early on – with Exchange Server 2003 – we recognized there was no cohesive solution for sharing information and communications securely over the air. We set out to innovate around that and the result was Exchange ActiveSync. Exchange ActiveSync enables a mobile phone to synchronize email, calendars, tasks, and contacts with Exchange Server over the air. We wanted to make sure Exchange ActiveSync was compatible with as many mobile devices as possible, so we built it on an open platform. Apple joins Motorola, Nokia, Palm, Sony Ericsson, Symbian and many others that license Exchange ActiveSync for mobile devices.”
Business Travel
Business travellers have also adopted the iPhone. The 3G model can operate in UMT/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz) and GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) compatible areas. With masses of applications available to download and install from the iPhone’s App Store, you are sure to find an application to make your road trips more productive. The iPhone is linked exclusively to the O2 mobile network. You can learn about how to take your iPhone overseas on their website.
Notable applications that you might want to try out includeFlight status so you never miss your plane again. And JetSet that enables you to keep accurate track of your expenses. The iPhone is designed to just work whichever country you happen to be in. If you do run into difficulty making calls, or connecting to the Internet, tap Settings > General > Network. You should then see all the available networks you can connect your phone to.
Best iPhone Business Apps
Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the iPhone is the ability to build an application for the phone. What this has meant is that a development frenzy has taken place since the iPhone’s launch with hundreds of individuals and professional software designers writing applications for the iPhone. Many are free, with other costing a nominal fee.
I have chosen six applications that small businesses might find useful. You can of course search the iPhone App Store yourself to locate a specific application you need. And if this doesn’t exist yet, why not write it yourself by downloading the application developer’s kit.
Having access to your business’s financial information at all times is a must. This application is basically Excel on your iPhone. It is compatible with Microsoft’s application, Apple’s Numbers spreadsheet and even Google Docs if you have moved some of your business to online applications.
Tracking your sales was elevated to a fine art when Salesforce.com arrived. It has reinforced its standing in the market over the last few years. If you already use their desktop services, you can become a mobile Salesforce.com user with this application for your iPhone.
Wi-Fi has transformed how business can operate. No longer tethered to the office, small businesses in particular have begun to reap the rewards that mobile computing can bring. Locating a strong Wi-Fi hotspot, however, can often be problematic. No need to start your laptop to find a hotspot with this handy utility.
With the Internet making every business a global enterprise being able to communicate in a number of languages is essential. There are many translator applications available for the iPhone, but TokTok is one of the best. Supported languages include Chinese, Japanese, English, French, Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Swedish, Norwegian, and more.
If your business doesn’t use Microsoft’s Exchange Server, you can still access your existing LAN (Local Area Network) securely via VPN. This handy utility does exactly what it says on the box. Gain instant access to your email, files and other resources stored on your servers. With support for thousands of users if you have them, this application is a mature VPN platform.
Making calls for free over the Internet was revolutionised when Skype arrived a few short years ago. Skype as a telecoms platform has continued to develop. With mobile call charges still quite high, any savings are welcome for all business users. Skype can be used alongside your iPhone. If you know the person you want to call is also a Skype user, why not call them virtually for free?
Copy this content onto your website
Paste this snippet to use content on your website:
Copy this content onto your website
Paste this snippet to use content on your website:
