Wireless I.Q.'s Weblog

5 Tips to Help You Become More Efficient and Productive

Ben — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:23:10 +0000

As originally posted on ActiveRain:

There is a reason real estate agents are among our largest demographic of clients. You will hardly ever find a real estate agent in one place all of the time. The best in the industry are always on the go, doing what they can to get more listings and to close more sales. These are the agents that are making the money, not settling for average. Most of these agents are well versed in using tools and techniques to help them stay on top of their game by having a high level of efficiency and productivity. At Wireless I.Q., we coach current and aspiring top producers and develop an “action plan” to use technology to achieve goals.

I have compiled a list of 5 tips to increase your efficiency and productivity in 2009:

1. Adopt a new technology and openly look for ways to utilize it to your advantage.

I give a free presentation at real estate company sales team meetings. At the beginning of the presentation, I ask for a show of hands from smartphone users. During one presentation, I was shocked to see that out of over thirty agents there were only three or four hands raised . The week after the presentation, I received calls from a dozen of those agents looking to make the jump to a smart phone. Try to overcome whatever is holding you back from adopting a new technology and approach it with an open mind.

2. Better Manage Client Relationships

What makes a good salesperson? I have always thought of myself as a successful salesperson because I understand who my client is, exactly what they are looking for, and use techniques to help me position my services to their individual needs.

Mileage Trackers for BlackBerry

Ben — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:33:21 +0000

Depending on what industry you are in, you may either get reimbursed for mileage through your company or write off the mileage on your taxes. Last year, the IRS made a change to the deduction amount for mileage. It went up to 58.5 cents per mile (if you are claiming for 2008, the first six months is 50.8 cents per mile). I logged almost 4000 miles and am going to have a nice deduction.

There are a few programs out there for BlackBerry that allow you to track your mileage. I tested out two programs, TrackIT: Vehicle Edition and Mileage Manager. They both work very well to record your mileage.

TrackIT: Vehicle Edition – $24.99 at Handango

This program allows you to track all vehicle expenses in one place: mileage, fuel costs, vehicle expenses, and maintenance. It also allows you to track multiple vehicles. The program is very easy to use and even has a feature to view reports and graphs for your expenses. Data can be exported to your computer using email on your BlackBerry. Filters can be set to export certain types of data.

Mileage Manager – $9.50 at Handango

This is a more basic way to track your mileage. If you are not interested in tracking other expenses, this program is for you. You can easily add mileage entries to the list and export it using email in either HTML or CSV (for Excel) format. Mileage Manager allows you to set a reimbursement amount for your mileage and will keep a running total of how much reimbursement you are owed. This application does not allow you to view reports or graphs. There is one “bug” with Mileage Manager. Normally, if you press the back button on a BlackBerry, it prompts you to save or discard your changes. With this program, the back button will automatically discard your changes. You have to press menu, then save in order for your changes to take effect.

Video review below.

Supra eKey for BlackBerry

Ben — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:04:16 +0000

GE is releasing a long awaited eKey for BlackBerry. eKey is used by realtors to access lock boxes on properties available for sale or lease. The technology also allows realtors to search for listings using eKey lock boxes from their cell phone and to track statistics regarding their listings. Previous lock box users were confined to using a device with an infrared port, generally Palm Treo and Windows Mobile devices.

BlackBerry users can now purchase an infrared eKey fob (pictured). This is a bluetooth device that connects to the BlackBerry similar to a headset and is small enough to connect to your key chain. Once you enter your PIN to open a lock box, the keyfob translates the signal from the BlackBerry to infrared in order to open the lock box.

There are two types of eKey service designed for the BlackBerry. The first is eKey Basic,

Review: e-Mobile Today Pro for BlackBerry

Ben — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:28:06 +0000

For you BlackBerry users that have used Windows Mobile in the past, e-Mobile Today Professional Edition is a great program to utilize an “active” desktop. Windows Mobile phones have an “active” desktop as the home screen. When an event occurs, such as an upcoming appointment or new email, the desktop updates. BlackBerry has a similar theme called the Today theme, but it does not work as well as the Windows Mobile counterpart.

e-Mobile Software has created a program for the BlackBerry operating system that allows you to have an active desktop. e-Mobile Today Professional lists missed calls, contacts, calendar entries, tasks, emails, and text messages all on the main screen. Add-ons can also be purchased to include weather, news, and stocks. You can customize the background image and also remove certain features from the home screen. Shortcut keys can be assigned for easy access to applications on the BlackBerry. To exit to the main BlackBerry operating system, just press the end call button.

Some things that can be improved:

E-mail accounts are not separated.
The home screen does not recognize MMS (picture messaging).
Voicemails show up as an SMS.
Interface takes a little time to get used to.
Must exit program to lock keys.
Cannot dial from active desktop. Green button can be pressed to access call screen.
Program takes over BlackBerry OS. Returns to the program after a certain amount of time.

The program is pretty useful despite a few shortcomings. I am looking forward to testing out the News, Weather, and Stocks add-ons. Check out a video of the software in action below:

Download software:

Review: QuickResponse for BlackBerry by Mobylo

Ben — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:30:31 +0000

Quick Response for BlackBerry is a useful piece of software for anyone that needs to quickly respond to email with information. Real Estate agents are perfect for this software. You can create a quick response template for each property listing that you have and list the amenities that property has to offer.

The following video demonstrates how Quick Response can:

Help you quickly respond to messages by using preconfigured templates.
Create templates from scratch and using received messages.
Insert templates.
Use placeholders.

Hurricane Preparedness for Wireless I.Q. Email Users

Ben — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:24:36 +0000

To our email subscribers:

With Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna threatening the gulf coast region, I wanted to share a few tips on being prepared for these storms.

Our email system is housed out of state and will continue to operate as normal in the event of power failure in our area. There are several factors that may impact to receive your email on your computer or mobile device.

· If power or internet is down in your area, you will not be able to send or receive messages from your computer during this time.

· In addition, your calendar, address book, tasks, and memos from your computer will not synchronize with our server.

· Any incoming email messages will continue to be received by our server and will come to your computer as soon as power and internet is restored.

· You have Outlook access at http://mail.securembox.com from any internet connected computer. Shared contacts and calendar are not available on the online version of Outlook. Login with your full email address as the username and your current password.

If you use a mobile device, you will have the ability to send and receive messages and continue to synchronize with our server as long as your wireless carrier is operating as normal.

· If you are using an AT&T BlackBerry, your carrier is operating correctly if you have “EDGE” or “GPRS” (all capital letters) next to your signal bars.

· For Verizon BlackBerry users, you should have “1XEV” by the signal bars.

· Windows Mobile users generally have an icon “E” or “3G” signifying that you have correct data service.

· Even when your cell phone is reading a normal data signal, an influx of usage could cause some delays in data being sent and received.

AT&T’s Systems Are Running Slow…On Their Busiest Day of the Year

wirelessiq — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:43:54 +0000

***We have moved our WordPress blog to our own server.

You can read this article in its entirety here:

http://www.wirelessiqllc.com/blog/2008/07/11/atts-systems-are-running-slowon-their-busiest-day-of-the-year/

You think they would be a little better prepared for this.

From my live blog:

9:29: Just saw a copy of an email about the system issues stating:

“Current Issues and Workarounds

These are the issues that are currently being worked. We do not have solutions for some of the systematic issues just yet. As many workarounds as are available are provided below.

Issues upgrading a FT line (CARE only):

Work around to get customer out the door: split line off of the FT, make individual and then put back on the FT account.

Tethering for Unbrick is slow or erroring (telegence and care)

Send customer home to tether. Reps will still be comped.

Cannot add a line to an existing FT account (CARE only):

New line Port-in Failures:

The vast majority of our port failures have been because the rep is not asking for the Pin/Password. This field MUST be populated if the customer has a pin/passcode on their account.

Cannot sell out the 16GB white device (69115)- not available for sale (care and telegence) on both new line (port) and upgrade:

Not showing as a 3G device.

The CSS for upgrades in CARE markets is not printing the Upgrade Fee for ANY phone sales. iPhone and non-iPhone.

Rep must be sure to cover the fee with the customer. Fix is not until Tuesday.

Feature Conflict with Existing FT Messaging”

I didn’t get the second page, so if anybody wants to fill that in, email me.

Picture after the jump.

My Journey For an iPhone Begins…

wirelessiq — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:45:04 +0000

***We have moved our WordPress blog to our own server.

You can read this article in its entirety here:

http://www.wirelessiqllc.com/blog/2008/07/11/my-journey-for-an-iphone-begins/

It’s 5:30 and my journey begins for an iPhone. Although I am not as hardcore as these people, I am pretty excited to get my wife and her sister an iPhone when it releases today. Having a four year old daughter, I am not able to wait in line overnight to get my hands on one. Daycare does not open until 6:30, so this is as early as I could get started. Our daughter is not going to be happy when I wake her up this early. Heck, I am not happy to wake up this early. I will keep you updated as I arrive to the AT&T store (which I actually worked at for three years). I can’t wait to see the look on all the Apple fanboys when I show up blogging on my PC…

7:00: Daycare was a few minutes late opening but traffic was not too bad. I am number 59 in line. It just so happens that my spot has a bench to sit on. They won’t tell us how many are in stock. I got a free bottle of water. I wonder what happens if I have to go to the bathroom. I’ll take it easy on the water. Pictures below.

I just saw a person that was waiting in line last year for the iPhone and the Ms. Debbie Heroman, the lady that did our flowers.

7:22: The guy in the number 61 spot bought a first-gen iPhone two weeks ago and now has to wait in line to exchange it for the 3G version. What rock was he hiding under?

8:00: The doors are finally open. I ran to Starbucks to use the bathroom while someone held my spot in line. I talked to the first people in line and they said they got here about 11:30 last night. I also got a glimpse of the new phone. Pretty nice looking. The line is moving fast.

8:30: Pretty much at a standstill. I’m sure activating in store this year is going to make the wait a little longer. I’ve made a few business contacts while waiting in line.

8:40: Someone just came outside and said there was a “small glitch” in the system. Great.

8:44: I’m starting to hear a lot of cell phone conversations saying “I’m gonna be a little late for work.”

8:49: Some guy just shouted “Does anybody want to buy a BlackBerry Curve?!” My battery is about to die on my laptop. I’ll be back when I plug it back in.

9:29: Just saw a copy of an email about the system issues stating:

AT&T Expands Insurance Coverage to Include PDAs/Smartphones

Ben — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:00:15 +0000

***We have moved our WordPress blog to our own server.

You can read this article in its entirety here:

http://www.wirelessiqllc.com/blog/2008/06/24/att-expands-insurance-coverage-to-include-pdassmartphones/

First thing first, this insurance coverage does not include the iPhone.

AT&T is finally allowing customer’s to cover PDAs and smartphones under their insurance program. This coverage includes unintentional liquid/physical damage and lost or stolen cell phones. You may also make a claim if your phone has warranty issues after the one year warranty is up. The monthly service charge for insurance coverage remains at $4.99 per month per phone.

Video Review of Facebook Application for Palm Treo

Ben — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:59:00 +0000

***We have moved our WordPress blog to our own server.

You can read this article in its entirety here:

http://www.wirelessiqllc.com/blog/2008/06/24/video-review-of-facebook-application-for-palm-treo/

Millions of people use Facebook. A majority of these users are unable to sit in front of their computer all day reading friend updates, wall posts, and to poke or be poked. Sure, in college, I had nothing better to do (homework, study, go to class) than sit in front of my computer. With mobility in mind, Facebook has launched a number of mobile Facebook applications.

From any cell phone browser, you can go to m.facebook.com and pull up a mobile version of the social networking website.

You can upload pictures and video from your cellphone by sending a multimedia message (MMS) to mobile@facebook.com.

In the video below, we review the Facebook application that was designed for the Palm Treo 680, 755p, and the Centro. Facebook is accessed using the internet connection through a program instead of the web browser.

To download it directly to your compatible Palm device, use the phone’s browser to go to http://mobile.palm.com/facebook. The installation process is also covered in the video.

Click “Continue Reading…” to view the video.

Ben
ben@wirelessiqllc.com
www.wirelessiqllc.com