In July we had an Ask Magpie! Question about
which smartphone to choose for business use. Magpie thought it was a question that deserved much more attention. So we decided to write a longer comparison of the iPhone, the Palm Pre/Windows Mobile Phones and the Blackberry.
We'll identify business tools for which people use smartphones, and then discuss how well each device handles those tools.
NOTE: If you're considering any of these phones, do your own research and visit your local store so you can actually experience the phone. This article will help provide a business case for each, but there's a lot more information out there we couldn't hope to fit in.
1. What will you use the smartphone for?
We're not looking at pretty design or "there's an app for that" here. We're talking specific business tools. Things professionals use every day, like:
- Email/Mobile Exchange Access
- Managing Tasks
- IM, Text Messages
- Web Access
- Contacts
- Calendar
2. What will you need from the smartphone in order to do these things?
Obviously we'll need phone service (that's a given). In order to provide as many of the above tools as possible, we'll also need the smartphone to:
- Play well with third-party apps.
- Have a solid feature set & operating system.
- Offer a decent keyboard.
So which is up first?
3. The iPhone
Current media darling, the iPhone's sheer variety of apps make it the most versatile smartphone out there. Millions jumped on board with the first model; more joined up when the new 3GS was released.
In terms of business use, the iPhone is a decent all-around smartphone. Its standard software includes Web access, email, calendars and texting. Its monolithic App Store contains apps for nearly every possible business tool.
It does however have some drawbacks. First, early adopters of the iPhone complained that it handled email poorly. The latest upgrades seem to have smoothed out this business necessity. Second, it has a virtual keyboard. This is a problem for some users, especially those who've worked previously on smartphones with conventional keyboards who have trouble getting used to the virtual arrangement.
Further, it doesn't like working with Microsoft OCS 2007 (Office Communications Server), which many businesses are opting for as an IM/Presence/VoIP solution. However the iPhone does
work with Exchange ActiveSync, which means pushed email, calendars, contacts and tasks.
4. The Palm Pre
We're using the Palm Pre for this comparison, but also considering other phones running Windows Mobile. Why do we want to talk about Windows Mobile? Because as a Microsoft OS, it runs OCS and Exchange Mail.
Between those two, every needed business tool (except Web access) is covered. Email, text/IM, calendar, managing tasks, contacts—all of it. Because of this, the Pre and other Windows Mobile phones come out on top in terms of business usability.
Looking at this from a Windows Mobile standpoint also means we can talk about multiple phone carriers. The Palm Pre works with Sprint's network. But other Windows Mobile phones like HTC and Samsung operate under Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.
Where the Pre stumbles are its hardware, and Palm's recent decision
to drop Windows Mobile and switch the Pre to its WebOS. Its keyboard is very small, its battery life is about 1 day (like the iPhone) and it has no expansion slot.
(Note: If you're in the market for a Windows Mobile phone, wait a few weeks for the
new ones running Windows Mobile 6.5 to come out.)
5. The Blackberry
Curve, Tour, Bold…it's a Blackberry. Professionals joke about the name, and the device's addictive qualities. The Blackberry line is solidly viewed as "THE business mobile." It has the longest reputation of serving business needs—primarily email. The full keyboard helps this; how many of us have seen the guy in a suit on the train/bus, frantically typing?
However its strength becomes a weakness when you try to use other tools. Blackberries are not as easy as Windows Mobile and the iPhone to configure for Exchange Mail. Typically it takes an inexperienced user 15 minutes to configure their Exchange account on a brand new Blackberry. If the BlackBerry is being moved from an enterprise-managed environment to a new Exchange environment, it can take up to 4 hours to upgrade and reconfigure.
Finally, they will not play nicely with OCS or an IM client. Web access is available, though users often complain of slowness or problems loading webpages.
Which Smartphone Works Best for Business Use?
As you'd expect, needs vary for a business smartphone. Each of these has its advantages. So here's what we think best suits the business user:
- If you want Web access and lots of different apps, go with iPhones.
- If you live by email, stick with a Windows Mobile phone or the iPhone.
- If you have trouble reading small screens, go with the iPhone. Its screen is easier to read, and its gesture capabilities make it easy to enlarge the view.
- If you run Exchange and/or OCS and need access on the go, opt for the Palm Pre or a similar smartphone running Windows Mobile 6.5.