Comments on: Do Small Biz Need Smartphone? http://www.localbizbits.com/2009/07/08/do-small-biz-need-smartphone/ Local Search Marketing Information and Resources Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:45:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Patrick http://www.localbizbits.com/2009/07/08/do-small-biz-need-smartphone/comment-page-1/#comment-323 Patrick Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:03:47 +0000 http://www.localbizbits.com/?p=556#comment-323 I use a netbook, which for my purposes work much better than a smartphone for the following reasons: 1. when I'm away from the office, usually it's not a good time to receive a call anyway, so a phone is not really useful. I use Google Voice to get voicemail, and either answer by email or find a convenient time to return the call. 2. when I'm not in the office, but still working, I'm in a place with free wireless (coffee shop, home, etc.). 3. a netbook (one with a keyboard that is 90% of the normal keyboard--there are some with too small keyboards) is much better for typing than a smartphone. I do everything on your bulleted list using my netbook, with the advantage of not paying one cent for a data plan, and using a normal-sized keyboard to type. For emergency calls/emails, my contacts know use AwayFind.com (an alert comes to both my email and work cellphone, which is rarely used but I keep in my pocket for emergencies). This makes it possible for customers to "page" me whenever they need to reach me promptly, because I'll be notified even if the netbook is closed at the moment. I use a netbook, which for my purposes work much better than a smartphone for the following reasons:

1. when I’m away from the office, usually it’s not a good time to receive a call anyway, so a phone is not really useful. I use Google Voice to get voicemail, and either answer by email or find a convenient time to return the call.

2. when I’m not in the office, but still working, I’m in a place with free wireless (coffee shop, home, etc.).

3. a netbook (one with a keyboard that is 90% of the normal keyboard–there are some with too small keyboards) is much better for typing than a smartphone.

I do everything on your bulleted list using my netbook, with the advantage of not paying one cent for a data plan, and using a normal-sized keyboard to type.

For emergency calls/emails, my contacts know use AwayFind.com (an alert comes to both my email and work cellphone, which is rarely used but I keep in my pocket for emergencies). This makes it possible for customers to “page” me whenever they need to reach me promptly, because I’ll be notified even if the netbook is closed at the moment.

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