Today’s “office job” rarely finds us actually working from inside an office. Our mobile capabilities with the Blackberry and iPhone make it easy to simply file away the desk side and stationary work. Who needs a file cabinet, personal assistant, accountant, travel agent and cartographer when there are a myriad of free downloadable applications?
These tools can help run a business by assisting the Getting-Work-Done process for those on the road. Not to mention they can facilitate ongoing dialogue with coworkers and are masterful at obtaining information, all with the mere click of a roller ball or a sliding index finger.
While traveling to Rio de Janeiro on business, I carried my Blackberry Bold with me. Of six traveling Americans, three had Blackberry phones and three used the iPhone. Camera applications like Blackberry’s free iTookThisOnMyPhone are critical for posting to Facebook and Twitter. Given the excitement around the announcement of Rio hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics, such an application helped hash tag the trending news.
When it comes to new applications to download, there are plenty of tools to rave about. Here are some favorite, cheap applications used both domestically and internationally by Blackberry and iPhone users:
1. WorldMate Live: A travel site to keep up with flight changes and delays. (Although it didn’t tell me I was downgraded on my TAM flight from business class.).
2. GadgetTrak: This application helps you keep your data safe by enabling full control of your device and data.
3.TaxiMagic A godsend when you’re unable to flag down a cab. The taxi booking service connects directly with taxi dispatch systems.
4. Currency Convert: Why bother figuring out the price in your head? This application converts 23 currencies with current conversion rates. There’s an option to bookmark your most used currencies as well.
5. MerchantWARE: Word has it small business owners who need to process credit card payments while on the go find this a safe and secure option.
6. reQall: I’m guilty of forgetting the dozen passwords I have accumulated. This personal assistant application jogs the memory with its fancy algorithm tools.
Six for the iPhone. As a Blackberry user it was tough to find that there are so many better applications for the iPhone like Skype, and Urban Spoon. Here are six applications that seemed to be the most exciting for those working while traveling.
1. iTrans: You can’t get anything accomplished if you don’t know where you’re going and how to get there. This application finds the quickest way between any two stations while taking daily schedule changes into consideration. Better yet, it even works underground offline or not.
2. Invoice2go Lite: Ten invoice styles for on-the-go invoicing and payment. Timewerks for $9.99 also keeps track of billable hours and invoices for all types of business professionals from freelancers to consultants to lawyers to salespeople and contractors.
3. Right Signature: Hardcopy is history when you can officially sign documents right on your iPhone.
4. AT&T Virtual Receptionist: Download a virtual receptionist to your iPhone to give the impression that you’re professional and savvy without having to hire a real person. PGI Mobile has a feature that lets you hold conference calls and record them too.
5. JustAddMoney Track what you spend as you spend it. The application includes receipts, checks, credit card purchases, and any cash purchases in real time.
6. ACTPrinter – How utterly convenient is this green application that “prints” any document from a Mac or PC. No more killing trees!