2 The Next Level

Archive for the ‘Android’ Category

Do you have a 3G/4G USB aircard? I have been debating for a minute on how I can justify getting a wireless aircard to allow me to have Internet service in places where I cannot get free Wifi. My cellphone carrier has a web connect plan that I was considering very seriously. This T-mobile plan cost about $49.00 per month and that’s after having to purchase the USB aircard stick for my laptop.

Tethering

I heard this term about 3 or so years ago from a friend of mine who used to get Free Internet access through his cell phone that allowed him to surf the net on his laptop.  Back then you had to be very careful in trying to create a tethering hack for your cellphone. First off you could void the contract of your carrier by doing it and second you could run up a huge phone bill by adding on to the minutes of your data plan.

Android and T-mobile

In doing some first hand research I found out that there were many cell phone carriers that allowed tethering using the Android operating system but my carrier, T-mobile was not one of them.  I finally found a software company that had just released an Android app that was said to work with my carrier.

PdaNet

June Fabrics Technology Inc. had already created tethering software applications for Windows Mobile phones, Palm OS phones and iPhones. I was elated that they had made one for Android but would it work with T-mobile? After a small download of the software on my laptop and then my cellphone I was up and running.

The Test

My first use of this PdaNet tethering software came at a lunch meeting with a potential client.  The meeting location did not have Wifi and part of my presentation needed Internet access to show off some of the WordPress blogsites I had created.  I was at risk of not being able to close the deal do to the lack of a connection to the net.

Tetheriffic

Not only did I have access to the Internet for the close of my presentation but I was amazed at how fast the 3G speed was in the downloading of all the graphics from some of the blogsites I had displayed on my laptop. My client was pleased with what he saw and said that he was impressed with how I used my cellphone to help finish the deal.

Tale of the tethering tape

PdaNet has two versions of its software application for Android phones. There is a Free version and a Paid version. The only difference in the Paid one is that you get to see secure websites. So if you have to pay a bill via a banking website or purchase something from an ecommerce website you might have some problems.  I have not had a need to upgrade to the paid version at this time but I do believe that the $23.95 one time price would be well worth it. It has already saved me money in not having to get an extra monthly web connect plan from my cell phone carrier.

Have you ever tethered your cell phone to get internet access for your laptop? As Solopreneurs we need to be able to save every penny we take in, so tethering could really make a difference in ones bottom line.  Let me know your thoughts on it.

All the best

JB

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I purchased my first Android Application for my Motorola CLIQ. I have only owned my new smart phone since this past Christmas and I am finding more ways to use it every day.  I have been filling my phone up with all kinds of Free Applications like SportsTap, Pandora and Foursquare. I decided to buy this App because of one of my all time vices. When I go to networking events..and yes people still go to face to face networking events. I collect a lot of business cards. I then bring those business cards back to my home office and proceed to put them in a card box that is marked data entry. Well I have about 20 of these same card boxes filled with business cards of the past. Some I have put into my database others are just waiting.. and waiting and waiting. Am I alone on this one?

Well since finding scanR for my Android powered phone, I don’t have this problem anymore. scanR is a privately-held company headquartered in Palo Alto, California. scanR lets you use your camera phone to scan, print and fax turning your paper documents and whiteboards into useful digital information. I am now currently going through hundreds of business cards, first scanning them and then throwing them away.

I went to a local networking event and didn’t keep a business card from anyone.  All I did was scan their business card and take a picture using scanR and then I handed back their business card. I then went back to my office and downloaded the business card information and the picture and imported it all into my CRM database.

My next step is not even carry my own business card.  With scanR all I now have to do is scan my own business card and if some wants it I can share it via email or fax. That business card would come to you via email as a text editable PDF file. Ready for you to cut and past into your own database.

So you see now, why I made this application my first purchase.  4.99 per month or 28.90 per year for an unlimited amount of scans.

The only things I don’t like about scanR is that you cannot share the scans with social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter. You can share it with Plaxo but that is not really working yet even though I have it setup on my scanR account. There is also no direct integration with any CRM or Database Management System.

My good friend and Personal Productivity Expert, Peggy Duncan will be very proud of me. She stresses having less clutter and more systems in place to stay more productive and stop wasting time. Well now I am getting rid of the clutter and have a system in place for my business cards that will make me more productive, give me back more time in my day and even save some trees.

What was one of the first smart phone application that you purchased, and why?

Does that application save you time and/or money?

How many applications have you purchased over the last weeks, months or year?

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