Hello everyone. I was going to buy a blackberry, seeing how it's a great device for e-mails on the go, and how you can plug it in to your laptop for internet access, but after seeing the Iphone, I think this device will be much more efficient than the Blackberry.

I like the look of it but the lack of exchange server syncing (push e-mail) kills the useability for me. I can't be without the instant e-mail receipt that I (& my customers/clients) have grown accustomed to.

The iPhone does feature "push" email via Yahoo. You could always set up a Yahoo email account and have everything forwarded to it from your regular email address. Voila, instant IMAP email!

This phone lacks everything, serves no purpose for the business person. It's a suped up Ipod, nothing more. If videos and music motivate your sales than this phone is for you. Why would you want a media driven phone for business purpose?

Hmmmmmm Kep, what you stated regarding it being justa media driven phone does make sense. Don't need those bells and whistles for business purposes.

O.K. Dinosaurs!




1) Web sites for REALTORS will be formatted to fit on phone screens as common place. People will use them in their home search as an everyday tool. Videos and virtual tours will highlight homes on You Tube etc., formatted for the cell phone. The technology already exists. (I have my websites (5) registered as a com and/or net now . I'm will be registering several .mobi domain names very soon.)

2) E-mail will be easier to access and use on the iPhone. (I have a treo now and hate using the e-mail function)

3) The MLS will be easier to view on the iPhone. (We use our treo and laptop with internet card now.)

4) When showing homes or listing homes, it would be easier to take photos and e-mail to clients or download on web sites. (Can you imagine a client after just looking at homes has multiple pictures of his/her favorites in their e-mail when they get home?)

5) In the future, we or should I say successful agents will be sending podcasts with video and sound to our clients like we now send automatic e-mails with new listings. (Technology along with client referral relationships is the key to surviving in todays market!)

6) Your tech savvy clients who are used to My Space and You Tube will expect you to fully use your "media" phone because they will be. (You should want to be on the fore front of this new trend)



Not to change the subject but to change the subject KEP & CALIF DREAMING, I have a question specifically for you two.

Question - If you have a seller that would like to sell his/her/their home for around $200,000 and it was worth it. How would you price the home? (Don't Be Shy CALIF DREAMING and Keep) What would you suggest pricing it at?)

What new ground are we striking with the iPhone, other than Only being available with being locked into a contract with Cingular & no discount for doing so. You can't buy it outright, only with a contract! Also, the battery is not user replaceable!

Believe me, I've researched the iPhone and really don't see any advantage other than a slick graphical interface.

It will be more user friendly.

Gee, that's definitely a compelling reason to pay a premium ($500 or $600) for a device that offers nothing better than the competition. Granted, it's a beautiful design (as are most all apple products) but it has to be equal to or better than the competition or it will only be supported by a small audience.

A few (real world) features that would make this the awesome product they want you to believe that it currently is, would be:

-MS Exchange server support
-User replaceable battery
-Higher mega-pixel camera than 2mp
-Flash for taking photos in low light conditions
-Ability to record video (I remember you mentioning podcast)
-Expansion slot for removable memory card
-Voice dialing
-Memory (speed) dialing
-Making a call one-handed without having to look at the screen
-VOIP support
-Audio recording (I remember you mentioning podcast)
-Multi-threaded applications (be able to search web/MLS and talk on phone simultaneously)
-Sync with Outlook
-More than one service provider (Cingular/AT&T)
-WiFi syncing support
-Handwriting recognition (even 5+ year old Palm devices have this feature)
-Bluetooth syncing & dial up networking support
-Third party software support (You can't install any software unless it's from Apple!)

PLEASE NOTE: I'm not bashing supporters of this device! I just feel like it's not the wonder-device that many are touting. In my opinion, there are too many features missing and a monopoly with the service provider. This outweighs the beautiful design and user friendliness that it has going for it.

I certainly hope Apple will address these issues and listen to what the public wants/needs and provide it!

I like the iPod because it's going to replace several devices for me. As a business phone, I'll use the internet the most. I wonder if Top Producer works on it.

I wrote a blog on Active Rain about the iPod http://activerain.com/blogsview/35017/Apple-iPhone-Simplifies-Your. There's also a new Mac users group there.

Dee:

I assume you meant iPhone instead of iPod. The web based access for Top Producer "should" work fine, but don't count on any software to be downloadable for the iPhone unless Apple feeds it to you. Remember, you'll have to have a data plan (in addition to your voice plan) on any of the smart phones and the iPhone for internet access.

Your link for iPhone above is dead. I visited your blog and could not find it.

The full extent of the iPhone's features has yet to be determined. Given that it's running OS X there's a chance it may do a lot of what you mention. We won't know until it's released in June.

I agree with CoolCat though, one needs to think outside the box to realize what can truly be accomplished with new technology like the iPhone. How many of you were (and still are) frowning at the whole blogging wave a year ago? Dinosaurs.

Does the iphone have an infrared port? I have a Treo phone and use the infrared port top open the lock boxes. I really like the 700w phone for how it integrates with Outlook. Will the iphone sync with Outlook?

I just read a Mac forum and the answer was No about the IR.

That's a bummer. I guess I'll stay with my Treo. I've been very happy with it so far!

Thanks for checking into that.