Written by Brian Weiss, the CEO of ITECH Solutions

Feb. 10, 2010 ---

In the modern workplace it is imperative to stay on top of the day-to-day tasks required to keep your workplace running smoothly. Everyone knows the value of a computer in the workplace for keeping track of your email, calendar and contacts. These items are vital for managing your schedule and keeping in touch with the contacts used to operate and produce income for your business.  

Most of our days are filled with appointments and tasks that can easily take us away from our desk and computer. This effectively separates us from the device that helps us operate in an efficient manner which can cause delays in projects and overall productivity.

Sometimes all it takes is a quick response to an email, or access to a calendar to keep a project or task on schedule for completion. When you are away from your computer you are not able to keep up with these essential items for sometimes up to a whole day. This is a counterproductive problem that a smart phone can easily solve.

There are many smart phones on the market so the question becomes: “Which smart phone is right for me?” Here are some things to consider when purchasing a Smart Phone:

1. Touch Screen Keyboard or Traditional Keypad?
   Consider they type of keypad you feel comfortable using when entering information into your smart phone. There are touch-screen keyboards, and the traditional keypad which is easier for users that need to feel the keys as they are typing. If you are a new smart phone user, both types of keypads will take getting used to. Existing smart phone users have already learned one type of keypad and tend to prefer the one they already use. Some smart phone keypads may just be incompatible with your hands altogether making it very difficult to enter any information.
2. Smart phone Carrier Network Coverage
   Carrier network coverage is a very important item to consider when choosing a smart phone. Nearly all carriers offer smart phones, but there are some models that have signed exclusive contracts with a specific carrier. Make sure the smart phone you want has coverage everywhere you need to use it. Don’t depend on maps and commercials to make your decision because any carrier will allow a 30 day trial before locking you into a contract. This allows you to actually use the smart phone in areas you spend the most time (home, work, etc.) letting you know if the carrier’s coverage will work for you.
3. Ease of Use
   Picking a phone that is easy to use is vital. If the smart phone you choose is not easy to use, it won’t be effective and you probably won't use it often, which defeats the whole purpose of getting the one in the first place. It is also important to make sure the smart phone has the features you need. Some smart phones have limitations that may conflict with your smart phone needs.
   If you are new to the using a smart phone and are comfortable with a touch screen keypad, the iPhone is one of the easiest phones to use on the market. The iPhone is only available with AT&T, but is due to release for Verizon end of 2010. If you are accustomed to using a certain type of smart phone, like a Blackberry, you may want to stick with that kind of phone.
4. Reliability and Ease of Setup
   An important aspect of a smart phone is how easily it integrates and syncs with your calendar/contact/email client.  Some phones require the use of a third party software to synchronize information which either requires you leave your computer turned on with the software running, or has a large implementation expense. These requirements add another layer of complexity to the syncing process of your smart phone and increase the probability of a sync problem. Blackberry is one example of a smart phone that requires extra software to complete the syncing task.

All ITECH Solutions employees use iPhones. ITECH integrates iPhones with its exchange server and has had no problems syncing or integrating the iPhone. The iPhone is very easy to use, and it is one of the top rated smart phones on the market. See the following CNET review for more information on the top rated smart phones. http://reviews.cnet.com/best-smartphones/

Brian Weiss is the CEO of ITECH Solutions in San Luis Obispo. ITECH Solutions delivers web development and managed IT services concentrated on value and cost effectiveness. ITECH Solutions partners with your business to implement solutions that you need. We work directly with your company to completely understand your situation, make intelligent recommendations, and implement a customized technology solution to fit the needs of your business. For more information visit www.itech-solutions.com or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .