Me, myself and iPhone: can it work for small businesses?
January 15, 2008 by ShannonCherry
Filed under Business
I finally bit the bullet and purchased an iphone. Prior to this I had a standard cellphone, but was always lamenting how I couldn’t check my schedule or email unless I lugged my laptop everywhere.
I love the ‘cool’ factor it has. And I am finding it easy to use.
Although the phone was not developed for business use, I know a lot of other small business owners using one.
But now that I have it, I am wondering how a startup or small business could best benefit from the iphone. What applications are out there that can really help? And if you already have an iphone, how do you use it in your business?
Shannon,
I use it a lot in my small business. Beside the user friendly features of the phone the photo album is great for showing things, a real web experience, easy to use sms, Google Maps has helped me out, the camera for doing spec shots, etc. I also use it as a networking showpiece. Sounds silly but it gets attention at networking meetings, etc.
I’m waiting with baited breath to see some more responses to this. I’ve been considering buying one for about six months trying to justify it for my business. The email and calendar are primary reasons. Maps would certainly come in second. I am trying to work out what good photos I could load in there for a school presentation business.
Better question would be: What do you want to do with it? What do small business owners need that isn’t there now?
I’ve been researching this and stumbled upon this site. A couple of friends and I are starting a charitable auction consulting business. We would all work from home and so need a way to share documents, calendars and email that is reliable and easy to use. Two of us already own iphones and I’m wondering if this wouldn’t be an easy adaptation. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.
I recently purchsed an iphone for business and have spent hours and hours trying to get the functionality that I imagined. Unfortunately, thre are a lot of work-arounds involved in the process such as using MobileMe as a server.
BTW, bated is the correct spelling of the word when used with breath.