How Much Mobile Phone Power Do You Need?

A quick look at features available with today's mobile phones.For many, a mobile phone is required equipment these days when you walk outside your office to do business. But how much mobile phone power do you really need when you're away from your desk? Do you need a phone that enables you to …

• Look up customer information and keep track of appointments?

• Access e-mail or the Internet?

• Take pictures?

• Run a word processing or other business application?


Mobile phones on the market today offer and combine many of these features in a slim package that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. Here's a quick look at the available phone functions, and how they can help you take care of business on the road.

Phones That Provide Basic Calling Services
The most basic mobile communications device is the mobile phone. Most mobile phone plans come with voice mail, allowing customers and co-workers to leave you messages if you cannot take their calls. Mobile phones give you the ability to store limited contact information, including names and phone numbers of people you call most frequently. In addition, you can send and receive text messages with a mobile phone and even use it as a modem to connect your laptop computer to the Internet.

A simple mobile phone is probably adequate if you just need to make a few calls during the day or want a way for close business associates can reach you. But you may miss other important messages.

Phones That Let You Receive E-mail Messages
Today, far more business is done through e-mail and other forms of electronic communication than phone calls. To keep up with all your customer messages—voice and electronic—consider a mobile device that has mobile phone and e-mail capabilities. These devices are typically the size of a regular mobile phone, but they allow you to send and receive e-mail wherever you have a wireless connection. Most devices can be configured to use the same e-mail account you access at your desk.

Phones with Windows Mobile 5.0 software installed can make electronic communication even timelier. Windows Mobile 5.0 supports Direct Push technology, which allows some e-mail servers – such as the one included with Windows Small Business Server 2003 – to send new messages to your phone as soon as they arrive. As long as you have network connectivity, your inbox is always up-to-date