The Sync Link 2.0

I admit it. I have been way too lazy about my blog pages. You can see from the last installment below how long it's been. I won't apologize , however, because my updates have been going out, over my Facebook Fan Page, Twitter feed and most recently Google+.

I have made a re-commitment to the Sync link, and I will be posting to it more regularly, mostly links to information I discover as I do my homework. I'll also have a section for Q&A on a regular basis.

Thanks for coming by, and stay tuned. The best is yet to come.

G. William James

Which phone to choose? Who cares, now it's all about the apps

One of the most satisfying perks of my job as a mobile technology consultant is how people seem to value my opinion when it comes to choosing a smartphone, netbook or mobile application. I do my homework, compare the devices as objectively as one possibly can, and after all that, my answer more often than not is, " it depends upon how you intend to use it most". Some advisor, huh?

The truth is, there are so many choices to make between smartphone platforms, manufacturers, models and wireless carriers, that it can be a confusing proposition, especially if you are relying on your choice to help you in business, first know that there is only a slight difference between devices in terms of the features and capabilities they offer. How they deliver these services will oftentimes be the deciding factor in which device will work best for you. The other main deciding factor will be the apps.

Next time you see a commercial for a smartphone, look closely at what they are presenting to you. They aren't touting the screen brightness or the speed of the processor; they are selling you on the software applications, or apps. The buzzword for iPhone for example is the over 100 thousand apps, and the list is growing. never mind that over half of them offer no value to a mobile professional, but the sheer number is worth Apple's advertising focus on them. Google Android boasts 10 thousand apps, while the Palm WebOS devices, Pre and Pixi are still growing their list, currently around a thousand.

Should this mean anything to you, mobile professional? Not really. if the apps that make you more productive are available on the iPhone as well as the Pre, then how many apps they offer becomes irrelevant. If your device makes it easy for you to access, to navigate, and to utilize the application, then you have the right one for you. All smartphones share a core suite of applications:

• Phone
• Email
• Text messaging
• Internet
• Calendar
• Contacts
• Multimedia (photos, video, camera, music, e-reader)

Beyond these, there are conveniences such as calculators and the like, but the variety of other applications depend on what has been developed and offered by the manufacturer. Applications are typically downloaded directly to the phones from the application stores of the manufacturer. Apple has the App Store, Google has the Google Market, while Palm sells through their App catalog. According to a number of Web sources, the average smartphone user purchases 7 applications per year, with an average cost of $5. Many apps downloaded are free or ad sponsored.

What types of apps do mobile professionals find useful? Here is a sampling:

• Document management software
• GPS navigation applications
• Real estate calculators
• Sales management tools
• Database management tools

Also available are many "cloud" applications that are accessed on the Web rather than stored on the smartphone, like social networking applications.

If you are looking to buy the right smartphone for your business, I have some points to consider:

1. Consider for what you will use your device most. Will it be phone calling, or email, or surfing the web? Perhaps maintaining your calendar and contacts will be high on the priority list. Think of the top three, and base your decision on:

• Battery life (talk time, standby time, even battery size matters)
• Screen size and resolution (could affect battery life)
• Form factor (overall size and shape of the device-is it easy to hold and use?)
• Input technology (on-screen keyboard vs. buttons, or the now old-school stylus)
• Applications (not the overall quantity of available apps, but having apps useful to your needs)

2. The cost of buying a device these days is hardly a factor in the decision anymore. If you purchase without a contract, the carriers will penalize you with a ridiculous purchase price. What they want is the activation and the two-year service commitment. With that marriage,the price becomes negligible, sometimes even offering a free device with purchase. Your major concern here should be the TCO, or total cost of ownership, which includes the cost of service. This is where your technology budget takes the biggest hit, so make sure you know the bottom line before making your decision final.

Click onto the image below to see a comparison of the cost of operating the most popular smartphones:







Add to this cost the purchase of applications (the national average ranges from $7-$50 per year), and you can see that the smartphone is a major investment in the cost of doing business.


3. Keep in mind that the device generating the most buzz may not be the best device for you. While it may be very appealing, and it seems everyone has one, it's liabilities may outweigh the benefits for you. Choose the device that offers ease of use, lots of functionality and offers wireless plans that won't compromise your budget.


Smartphones have greatly changed the way mobile professionals manage their business day. While the wide variety of devices on shelves become more alike than they are different, the applications play a larger role in what they deliver, and which ones will ultimately be the best for us to use.


Join G. William James at the 2010 Mobile Technology Webinar Series

Smartphones, Mobile Technologies and Great Gadgets for Real Estate

Presented by: G. William James

When: January 19th, 11:00 – 12:00 AM Pacific Time

Cost: $9.95

Registration: By toll free telephone to OnlineEd (866) 519-9597 or click here to enroll online.

A smartphone is not required for this workshop. In fact, it is a forum designed for those who are looking for the right device for their needs, and for current users to discover how to better use their smartphone and what to look for when the time comes to upgrade.

Windows Mobile 6.5 Released

Microsoft is forging ahead with the Windows Mobile OS, its latest version 6.5, from the last upgrade of 6.1

many devices are not compatible with the upgrade, specifically those running Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6.0. Some devices running 6.1 are upgradeable, however.

In the smartphone community, Windows Mobile is dwindling, as did Palm OS. Many manufacturers such as Motorola are designing their devices on newer OS such as Google Android. Although aging rapidly, it is still a somewhat robust interface for a smartphone, in my opinion. Microsoft is expected to deliver Windows Mobile 7 sometime in 2010.

Google Android Phones Coming On Sprint, Verizon Expected Soon Thereafter

Lately in my smartphone training workshops I have been getting lots more questions about Android that I used to. Perhaps this is because either Google, Sprint and Verizon have been generating an increased buzz about Android, or perhaps its capabilities as a realatively new operating system has earned a reputation, and high anticipation.

Android is the OS designed by Google to drive smartphones. To date there are two sold at T-Mobile, last year's G-1 and the MyTouch earlier this year. It is engineered from the ground up to work comfortably within the Google Universe as I call it, and its seeming to never end list of applications and services, all web-based and mostly free. There are multiple thousands of apps already available for the Android OS.


Sprint and verizon are both set to retail the newest Android device,Sprint with the HTC Hero, and perhaps the Motorola Cliq. Other devices are on the horizon for T-Mobile, and most likely AT&T.

I don't know a whole lot about the Android system from its technical specifications, but I've toyed around with the T-Mobile devices at the store; it seems as of the OS was well thought out, and the mobile professional can enjoy it as well as the technology buff.

With models yet to be released on the top three carriers, I won't be able to give an educated opinion until I've had an opportunity to compare available features and what the carriers themselves will add or subtract, but I will be there on day one, and soon after you'll know what I do, from the presepective that makes it a tool REALTORS can benefit.

Until then read articles from CNET (my source).

Verizon Shuts Down Its SMTP Email Relay- Will You Be Affected?

Verizon wireless subscribers who use email on their smartphone or aircard may discover they are unable to send email after August 29th. http://support.vzw.com/information/smtp_shutdown.html

Here's a summary of what's going on, how to determine if you will be affected, and what you can do to make sure you can continue to send email from your mobile device.

It's possible that when you set up your email settings on your smartphone or aircard, in addition to telling the device where to retrieve your incoming mail, such as your DSL or high-speed internet account, you had to use Verizon's SMTP relay service as your outgoing mail server address.

This service is being stopped by Verizon as of August 29, and if you are using the service, you will receive email but not be able to send any.

How do you determine if you are affected? here's a couple of points to know: First, if you are a Verizon Blackberry customer, you most likely will not be affected because your email goes through a different server sequence.

If you are using Verizon WirelessSync Service on your smartphone for email, this is will not be affected as well.

Check your email settings on your mobile device to see what your outgoing email server settings are. If you're not sure how to do so, contact Verizon directly, and let them walk you through it.

So, what if you are affected, and you need to find a new solution? There are a number of solutions out there, but I'll tell you what I teach in my smartphone workshops:

1.Use Gmail. This is a tremendous service in my opinion for email, as it offers generous space for your email, is very flexible, and it's free. Begin in settings, the Accounts and Import tab and forward your email from the current email service to Gmail. On your smartphone, make Gmail both the incoming and outgoing servers for your mobile email.

Make sure that you go into the Gmail settings on the PC, open the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab and enable the POP or IMAP download. and save. It won't work on your smartphone until you do this.

You can also go back to the Accounts and Import tab, and create multiple identities from which to send your mail. This will allow Gmail to be transparent if you are sending email as a reply from your company's website, for example.

You can get similar solutions from Yahoo! and Bing, and a host of others.

If you have questions about how to make sure your email sends on your device, email me at William@pdapowerplus.com.

How To Avoid Being Frustrated With Your Smartphone

I spend a lot of my working time with Realtors. To me they are the epitome of the mobile sales professional, which makes what I do as a workshop presenter on mobile technology such an easy fit. I spend my time with other sales pros, as well as attorneys and physicians, but being honest, I know from where my bread is buttered.

Most of my blogs seem to be directed towards my realty audience. Frankly, they are. But read on, my friend, what I teach is universal, and I guarantee if you use a phone smarter than a 5th grader, you'll learn how to use it better from me.

Now, I digress.

As I present smartphone and mobile technology workshops to Realtors across the country, I have had to respond to a common theme, particularly when it came to using the smartphone as a lockbox key. "My smartphone is failing to be dependable as a key and I am getting frustrated".

At first Palm Treo devices took the brunt of the criticism, but it's really not the fault of the device, but the reality of the technology it employs. I get cries for help from users of all smartphone brands and models these days, with the same issues as the Palm has, but since they were first with eKey, they took the heat. Because I like and endorse Palm devices for real estate so much, I felt as if I owed my Agents some answers. So I did my homework.

Here is the reality: The smartphones are an incredibly useful tool for the mobile real estate professional, and given the opportunity, it will work well and last over time. The problem, in my mind at least, is that users were not taught how to give it the full opportunity to perform rightly.

Smartphones are mini computers, with a storage memory and an operating memory. Whenever you add a contact or appointment, receive an email or write a memo, you are saving it in storage memory. When you go to a website, or download a file online, it delivers cookies (you've heard of the dreaded cookie!) and temporary Internet files onto your device as well.

Just as on your PC, these files need to be regularly cleaned out, or they grow like the Blob (maybe you remember that silly movies from the 50's...I was still a glimmer of hope). Over time, these files will make your smartphone more sluggish and frustrating to use, until you are ready to toss it.

If you use the Supra eKey, remember you get nightly data loads from Supra. The temporary files and cookies can grow massively, and from hence comes the frustration and dismay.

No one told you that it's necessary until now, but you need a simple monthly maintenance plan to get your device humming again.

I'll begin by sharing with you a story: Here is an Activerain blog by Louisiana Realtor Amy Jones:

Smartphone eKey Error- Roadbump resolved

This past Sunday my Smartphone eKey put a small road bump in my day. I am thankful to my friends, fellow agents, and clients for their help and understanding. All of the appointments were mapped out and a schedule was planned on Saturday. As I logged into my Ekey- I received an error message. A re-power has always resolved any similar errors in the past. Not this time.

Jo-Ann was working the front dest. Her picture could be a substitute for kind in the dictionary. She made some calls on my behalf. Heather is always willing to help out, she really came through for me on Sunday. Huge thank you to Heather!

After showing properties, I resumed searching for an eKey fix. Apparently Windows based eKey applications can become corrupted. I had to un-install the program completely from my phone, then reinstall. You will need an authorization number to do so. The operators at Supra are very patient and will walk you through the process.

If you get an unexpected error on your eKey- call Supra first. It is likely that they will be able to help you resolve your problem.

I spoke to several agents that day who were having problems with systems being down. Technology is wonderful when it works. I'm blessed to have friends to help out when it doesn't!

I am happy that Amy got some help when she needed it, but it would have been even better had she known then what she knows now, and what I will share with you.

1. Clean out your phone. and free up memory. Synchronize if necessary to back up; then clean out your email box, your text messages and phone call logs.

Go to the Internet browser and clean out the cookies and temporary internet files. Move any photos you have to a memory card (if supported) or store them on your hard drive instead. You will be amazed at how much memory you will free up from these few steps.

Supra eKey users, delete the software monthly, and download it directly onto your device from the Supra mobile downloads site www.ekeymobile.com (Blackberry users only). Palm and Windows Mobile devices can download and sync from the PC at www.supraekey.com

2. Take out the battery and restart the system. Sometimes you need to restart your laptop, right? same with your smartphone. This frees up unused programs running in the background of some devices, as well as files running in the background, oblivious to you. This can also improve battery life.

If you can't take the battery out, such as an iPhone, a soft reset will do. To do this, press and hold the iPhone’s Sleep/Wake button (at the top) and the Home button for several seconds, or until you see the apple logo on the screen.

The other thing this does is disconnect you from the wireless network, long enough to establish a fresh connection. If you don't travel by plane often, odds are you never disconnect from the wireless network. This connection can grow stale, and a reconnection may improve call quality and data speed.

Lastly, a lint-free cloth to clean the screen and body from oils and fingerprints would be a good idea. if you have a physical keyboard, some compressed air may loosen dirt under the keys and improve data input.

If you schedule a monthly maintenance of your device, you will be amazed at how few times you will groan in frustration at your smartphone, and you will be the envy of your colleagues who fail to do what I have suggested here. You can even earn an occasional free lunch by offering a smartphone maintenance seminar provided they pick up the tab!

Please feel free to contact me for comments, questions or inquiries regarding my smartphones and mobile technology workshops for Realtors for your Board, Association, or realty office.

I offer private consultations as well.

Computing In The "Cloud"

Personal computing has entered a new age.

The way we conduct business, entertain and communicate with computers is constantly evolving, and I welcome you to the next phase. Here's a question for you to ponder: When was the last time you needed to load a CD-ROM into your drive? If it's been a while, you've already begun the journey into cloud computing.

Cloud computing is simply using the resources of the Internet to manage data and documents, enjoy multimedia, and automate business functions over the Web, by accessing network servers. These functions can now be done from anywhere, on any computer by simply signing on to the host website and managing the data from there.

Many companies have been managing their sales force activities and client relationship management for some time now, but companies like Google, Yahoo and Bing have led the way for individuals and entrepreneurs to take full advantage of cloud computing.

Take for instance, Google Calendar and Google Docs. These free applications allow you access to your information anytime, from anywhere as it is securely stored on their network servers. These applications can be shared by people you allow, even groups of people who can input data as necessary.

For real estate, cloud computing offers a tremendous opportunity to streamline the sales process, as well as enhance your marketing strategy in a marvelous way. Social networks are indeed a form of cloud computing as are media network sites like Hulu and Sling.com

Here’s an example of an innovative way of using cloud computing in your marketing plan: You want to share photos of your listings with your prospects. Rather than an attachment to an email, photos may be uploaded to free services such as Picasa or Flickr, organized into folders and full control of who gets to access your content. In Picasa, for example, up to 500 photos can be in one folder, so you basically have a free tool to a nearly unlimited opportunity to market your listings. Invite people to see your photos on the service and watch the sales increase.

Another useful tool is Google’s YouTube. An average of 100 million video uploads per day, but none of them keep your prospects away from your listing videos and virtual tours. Simply create a free YouTube channel. Upload your content onto the channel, mark them as private instead of public if you wish, and personally invite your prospects to view your content. No more worrying if a video file will be too large of an email attachment.

I’m expecting the cloud to be the way real estate transactions are done going into the future as well.

Imagine, if you haven’t already experienced it, a site on the Association’s server by which all the processes of a real estate transaction is performed, in their own individual secure files under a transaction code number. Every step, from the initial contract, the offer, financing, Broker’s review, insurance, contractors, title, etc are all performed, reported and stored in one place. The file can be accessed only in parts by authorized users, and everything can be easily confirmed prior to closing, and no steps overlooked.

Smartphones play a huge role in cloud computing as well. As we become more dependent on the mobile office, access to this data from the Blackberry, iPhone or Pre will be crucial. Smartphones are getting more compatible to the Web with each generation, and will in many cases eliminate having to carry a laptop.

But in times when the laptop is necessary……Enter the Netbook.

Netbooks are smaller versions of laptop computers, that actually are designed for cloud computing. Quite compact, averaging screen size of ten inches, and ranging in price from $249-$500. Most have flash memory instead of hard drives, run on Windows XP or Linux operating systems, and have no CD drives. In most other cases operate the same as any laptop. A thumb drive for file storage is a great accessory, but if you are true to cloud computing, you won’t even need that.

Services like Dropbox offer free storage space online so you can copy files from your hard drive to the Dropbox and later access them from any computer.

In my next installment I will discuss how we will access the cloud while in our automobi-office. Wireless carriers are offering services like WiMax, and 4G wireless Internet on the smartphone. Cloud computing, if you choose to be innovative with it is a novel and inexpensive way to manage your business without ever seeing your desk.

And just wait until you see your car’s new dashboard!