Specific "before I buy" iPhone questions

[s2krazy]

I'm currently in a V3 and am considering the iPhone because of the large, easy to read screen. I'm certainly not old, but due to a cataract, my eyesight isn't what it was. I've looked at most of the SmartPhones out there and quite frankly, I can't read them easily.

I am concerned that it won't meet my changing business needs, (not that the razr does either) and am wondering if any phone will? So on to my questions:

1) Is there a limit to the number of contacts? Would 1000 names and addresses fit? Is there a way to make separate directories for personal and business?

2) I've read there is no way to cut and paste, but is there a way to save e-mail templates?

3) For work, we use a web based CRM, however in my PC it required the installation of version 1.4.1_02 of the Java Runtime Environment. I've read the the iphone doesn't support Java but is this something different than the Java games? If I could get into our work CRM, through Safari I could use the e-mail templates stored there.

4) Synching contacts: I use Act! as my contact manager and e-mail client. I don't expect the iPhone to work with that, but I can export the contact I want to sync into either outlook or windows address book. I don't want todos to sync and would prefer the sync to be 'one way' only ie; WCM -> iPhone only. Is this configurable?

I've been reading this board for some time now, but using the search feature has been frustrating as I can't seem to narrow it down enough to find answers to my specific questions. Thanks for reading my long post, and Merry Christmas!

[nicknmadison]

forget about the iphone for business, especially if it is going to be on a corporate platform.

I use a Blackberry from Verizon, and although the voice quality if marginal the email is without peer.

I bought an iphone for my personal phone and the coverage anywhere off the interstate system is awful. Nice toy but that is exactly what it is...a toy. The ipod functions are basically worthless, the memory is minimal but the camera is surprisingly okay.

I bought mine in hopes of combining a ipod, cell phone and email manager into one unit....didn't work out for me....I returned mine and went back to my Blackberry and 80g classic

[hexonxonx]

1. haven't heard of a limit but when you start getting hundreds of contacts, it can be hard to find names even with the alphabet tab on the right.

2. No cut and paste, no email templates.

3.

4. It can work but if you make changes to a contact on the iPhone, it will change them on the computer as well.

The iPhone is not a PDA nor is it for business use. It's more like an entertainment device such as the other iPods especially since it revolves around iTunes in which it's primary function is music and movies. It just happens to have a phone built in. Realize that and the iPhone is great for what it does.

I bought the iPhone in hopes that I could use the iPod for music in my car since I am in the car eight hours a day. When I figured out that it was hard to control while driving since you have to view the screen to do anything, I bought a Classic iPod as well.

I love my iPhone, for me it is still the best phone I have had, even better than my old Treo 650. AT&T coverage has been flawless across Texas, COlorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and all over California.

[fniemritz]

The iPhone is not a PDA .

Would you (or someone else) please expand on this a bit for me? I guess I'm under the assumption that it is. I am seriously considering buying one, even though AT&T service in my area is a bit sucky (I had AT&T before switching to Verizon). My contract with Verizon is up and I'm searching for a new phone/smartphone. I could stay with Verizon and choose either the Voyager (fake iPhone IMO), Samsung (which I am leaning toward) or Treo. Or get the iPhone which I have wanted ever since it came out.

I was using a Dell Axim to keep track of my To Do list, appt., and contacts. But I was never really satisfied with it. So, I thought having all these features + a phone would be VERY nice to have. Would the iPhone not serve this purpose or am I missing something?

Also, I am the new proud owner of a 16G Touch. :cool: But I wonder if I buy an iPhone would I need/use both? Who has both and how do you use them? Thanks in advance for answering.

[Staszek]

Would you (or someone else) please expand on this a bit for me? I guess I'm under the assumption that it is. I am seriously considering buying one, even though AT&T service in my area is a bit sucky (I had AT&T before switching to Verizon). My contract with Verizon is up and I'm searching for a new phone/smartphone. I could stay with Verizon and choose either the Voyager (fake iPhone IMO), Samsung (which I am leaning toward) or Treo. Or get the iPhone which I have wanted ever since it came out.

I was using a Dell Axim to keep track of my To Do list, appt., and contacts. But I was never really satisfied with it. So, I thought having all these features + a phone would be VERY nice to have. Would the iPhone not serve this purpose or am I missing something?

Also, I am the new proud owner of a 16G Touch. :cool: But I wonder if I buy an iPhone would I need/use both? Who has both and how do you use them? Thanks in advance for answering.

Some consider it a pda/smartphone some do not it changes per person. In the traditional sense its not really a PDA as someone else stated, its more for entertainment that has contact and calender abilities as well as email.

I think you will have to test your web CRM, go to an apple store and see if you can log in from an iphone.

As for act not sure it will sync with that it does with outlook though.

While it will be 100 times better then the razr, until SDK (the software developement kit) comes out it will not compare business wise to a Treo or a blackberry.

But that is not to say you cannot get by and survive. You have 14 days to return it, get it see if it works with everything you need it to work with and if it doesnt bring it back.


Edit: I didnt realize you have a touch, if you have a touch you can do basically everything with it that you can do on the iphone except make a call. So test out your CRM with the touch.

[fniemritz]

Thank you for your response on this. :) I guess I need to open and s/u my iPod touch that's still in the box.:o

I'm not as tech savvy as would like to be. Would you tell me what CRM stands for? It's probably obvious to everyone but me. :o Thanks.

[Staszek]

Thank you for your response on this. :) I guess I need to open and s/u my iPod touch that's still in the box.:o

I'm not as tech savvy as would like to be. Would you tell me what CRM stands for? It's probably obvious to everyone but me. :o Thanks.


Customer relationship management