EV-DO aside, more and more people use their phones for data services like email, web-browsing, and more. You’ve seen my Crackberry article – yes, this goes way beyond Blackberry devices.
I personally use a Treo 700p and use it for data many times per day. I have become efficient enough with it that it is easier to find a phone number and check my email than it is to open Outlook.
However, I find an amazing number of tech-savvy and business users who do not understand the technology, capabilities, or ease of use. They don’t understand how it can be an extra tool in their toolbelt to help them become more productive and effective.
So, if you haven’t jumped on the mobile data jet-powered-bandwagon, get on because this thing is moving fast and will not wait for you.
I don’t get why playing is a bad thing even for an individual (unless it consumes your work and/or family life)…you could say the same thing about computers. Guess what the people that “played” on their computers during their free time are now called: experts!
And it is not long before we have many new jobs/markets arising for mobile devices – HelpDesk Specialists, System Administrators, Security Specialists, etc. Seems like playing now for fun would be better than cramming via books later on.
…I know what you meant…that’s just another perspective on it.
The only problem with these devices, at least for me, is what I’ll call the “playing” curve. Normally, when we’re exposed to a new device or piece of software, there’s a learning curve before we experience increased productivity. This is an acceptible short-term loss of productivity for most companies and work environments. However, these devices are incredibly easy to use and I suspect that a greate deal of research has gone into the interface and functionality to make them easy to use. So, we have a device that works great from the moment we turn it on and it does all kinds of neat things … I wonder what happens if I click here… ooohh! I can change these colors… I need to change the default reminder times… I need to figure out how to load that neat new PDA program I read about in that blog… Hey! There’s an API, and J2ME… What? There’s a meeting coming up? Okay, let me get a piece of paper to write that down. My PDA isn’t configured properly yet …
As I said, learning curve is an acceptible short-term loss of productivity for most companies. Especially if they have the option to roll-out the new tool incrementally. However, PDAs are not for the company staff as a group, but for the individual. An individual doesn’t have another “self” to cover for him/her during the “playing” curve.
… But there’s no solution. You’re right. Get on, get over it, play later or get left behind.
— Ghodmode