Faas R.J. iPhone for Work: Increasing Productivity for Busy Professionals

Apress, 2009. — 354 p.Since Apple announced it in January of 2007, the iPhone has repeatedly revolutionized the world of mobile phones. The iPhone was the first phone to utilize a touchscreen as the sole input technology. It was the first phone that proved that average consumers were willing to pay for a well-designed smart phone that was also a media player, and it was the first smart phone to truly display web content as well as a computer. Those accomplishments were achieved the day the first iPhone shipped.
With Apple’s first major refresh to the iPhone’s hardware and software, the company dramatically expanded the device’s capabilities with faster network connectivity, GPS capabilities, and integration with Microsoft Exchange (the most commonly used collaborative suite in the business world). But, more significantly, Apple gave third-party software developers the ability to create new applications for the iPhone and leveraged the power of the iTunes Store to make it easy and convenient for users to browse these new applications, and to buy, download, and install them in one easy step. Within months, iPhone users had access to tens of thousands of applications that ran the gamut from virtual whoopee cushions to business and project management solutions, and everything in between.
Between the ever-expanding options of additional applications and Apple’s introduction of some core business features to the iPhone, it came as no surprise to me last year when I began to get asked if the iPhone could be a real solution for business in the way that the Blackberry or Windows Mobile devices were. The answer, of course, was yes. And over the past year, I’ve seen companies of all sizes, as well as individual workers and consultants, purchase and integrate the iPhone into their workflows.
This book is based on partly my personal experience as a technology consultant/trainer and as an iPhone owner. It is also based on many conversations with iPhone-toting professionals from many fields. My goal is to provide you with a reference that is part how-to book, but also takes each feature of the iPhone (including some of the more consumer-oriented features, like YouTube and text messaging) and provides practical ways that you can use it in your professional life.
To that end, you’ll see a lot of basic iPhone knowledge to get you started. You’ll also see the occasional quote from iPhone users highlighting helpful business uses for specific features, as well as tips and sidebars that offer suggestions on more detailed ways that you can use the iPhone for professional networking, task management, daily work-related tasks, and professional development. Even if you know a lot of the basics about the iPhone, each chapter probably has some helpful tidbit, regardless of your field or industry.
In Part 1 of this book, I’ll cover all the basic things you need to know about purchasing, activating, and getting started with your iPhone. In Part 2, you’ll learn all the details about the built-in applications that come with the iPhone (both how to use them and how use them in business settings). Part 3 covers the App Store, where you can find and purchase an amazing array of business and productivity tools (and a lot of apps that are just plain fun–after all, the iPhone is a fun device to use).
In addition to introducing you to the App Store, the final part of this book provides an introductory guide to many business applications for the iPhone. This includes general tools that can be helpful for almost any iPhone-owning professional and any type of business. It also includes guides to applications that are helpful for people in specific professions such as doctors, lawyers, real estate agents, and teachers.
At the end of this book, you’ll have a clear idea of how to use your iPhone and how to apply it to your specific career and job needs. But, as I note more than once in Part 3, the range of applications is always growing, and Apple is continuing to push the iPhone forward with new features and capabilities. So, while this book will be a great starting point for your iPhone-enabled career, it is just that–a place to get started–because I have no doubt that Apple and third-party iPhone developers will expand the potential of the iPhone for business users and consumers alike.Part 1 iPhone Basics
Buying and Activating Your iPhone
Using Your iPhone for the First Time
Getting Online
Part 2 Getting Down to Business with the Built-In Apps
Phone Home (Or Work, Clients, or Anyone Else)
Texting and Media Messaging for a Living
E-mail
Calendar
Contacts
Microsoft Exchange and ActiveSync
Photos and Video
Web Browsing with Mobile Safari
Getting Around Using Maps
iPod and iTunes
The Remaining Built-In Apps
Part 3 Getting Even More Done with Additonal Apps
Understanding iPhone Applications and the App Store
General Business Applications
Apps for Specific Professions
A: Resources for iPhone Management in Business and Enterprise Environments
B: Resources for Developing In-House iPhone Applications