Hey there,

I am planning on getting another cell phone soon and am contemplating getting a Blackberry. I am still in the planning stages of becoming a VA so I'm wondering how helpful (or perhaps wasteful) it is to have a smart phone (like the Blackberry or iPhone). It's about $30 more a month to have the Blackberry, so I can't yet justify the cost (but when I become more active as a VA, maybe it will come in handy). It would be nice to be able to read emails on the go, but I could do that with a regular cell phone. At what point is it worth it? What features do you use on the Blackberry/iPhone that you find invaluable?

I'd love your opinions!!

Thanks,

Rachel

I love my blackberry, but will likely move to an iPhone at the end of my contract simply for the selection of apps available, but I digress.

I use my blackberry so many ways, I can scan my email, check my calendar and make notes on the go. I also am a bit of a app addict and love the different apps I can use, as an example I can use one app to send my invoice or track time and sync with Freshbooks, I can access my docs via google docs and send a contract if I need to. Access the internet to do some research or use Kobo to read a book. Maybe I need to review some docs a client has sent, I can do that....

Ah well, you get the picture...

At this point I don't think I could ever go back to a regular cell phone simply because I love the access the blackberry provides. But for your situation you may want to stick with the phone, but see when you can upgrade to a blackberry or iPhone once you've signed the contract. That might help you make your decision.

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Renee Shupe, Become a Techie Virtual Assistant
eMail Marketing & Aweber Training Starts May 15! - Save 50% using VAFAweber

I got the Blackberry but after having it for a week, I decided to switch to the Palm Treo. I like it MUCH better. My husband and I have the simply everything plan for business through Sprint which is $99/mo for the 1st phone and $89/mo for the 2nd line. It gives you unlimited everything. Sprint also has a family plan that is similar for $42.50/mo but you have limited/shared talk time...

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Shellye L. Lyons, Business/Marketing Manager ~~ The Lyons Group, LLC

I could not function w/o a smart phone. Nope, couldn't do it! I was one of those people that had their day runner, then their PDA, at their finger tips constantly. It's just not for business for me, I have a busy, active family so keeping up with crazy schedules and the like is insane. My lifestyle dictates a lot, so I would rather rearrange my budget to accommodate the costs. It's worth saving brain cells for me.

I currently have a windoze mobile os phone, but I will be switching it out for a Blackberry or a Motorola Droid real soon. My sanity revolves my phone! Crazy, I know. Calling on it is my least concerned for function, I need everything else all the time. :P

So, I guess my point is, finally, get what you need and can afford now. If you currently don't need all the functions that come with a smart phone then don't pay the fees for one. Cell phones can be upgraded, and so can plans, easily enough that I wouldn't look too far in the future for my purchase now.

Don't you hate it when people tell you how great something is, then caution you on spending the money on it? I don't take spending money lightly, no matter how much I enjoy a new "toy", so I figure others feel the same about their money.

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Charlotte

Perhaps, before choosing, the first thing is to consider what you really need ... I mean really need. If you're regularly away from your office for long periods of time taking your children to the park, beach, ball games, shopping or what-have-you, then a machine with all the bells and whistles fits the bill. If you're only away for shorter periods of time, walking the dog, fetching milk, mowing the lawn and so on, then a basic cell phone is more than adequate. Your business phone can be forwarded to cell while you're away.

I try to run my life on the KISS principle, although incoming business email sets off a wolf howl I can hear anywhere ... it sent my dogs a little schitzy until they got used to it

Lynne

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The Wordpro Wizard
www.wordprowizard.com

Thanks for your insight everyone! Part of me love the bells & whistles of the smart phones but I'm thinking until I need to be notified of every business email immediately, it's probably best to go with a regular cell phone instead. However, the organizational apps with the smart phones that really intrigue me. I have a few lists going (personal & business) that it might help keep me on my toes......hmmmmm....

I have an Android and, from a business standpoint, can't imagine being without it.

I can so all my social networking on it. The ability to conduct much of my business on it makes it worthwhile to have a phone that has a full Internet package such as an iPhone or, in my case, Android. I don't know enough about Blackberries to comment.

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Tony Thomas - Social Media Professional
Social Media of Portland

I am reading with intrigue as I have a regular cell phone and sometimes don't care t answer it. I refuse to have either as I would be an addict I am sure and I am learning to simplify and delegate. Maybe it is being in the country or maybe it is because I missed a lot when my kids were little because I was a workaholic.

What are your needs and is it necessary to have a smartphone? Will it interrupt with the very core that has led to you being virtual and a business owner? Can you practice restraint with it?

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

I operated my business (just fine, thankyouverymuch ) for two years without a BlackBerry, and when my upgrade time came a few months back, I toyed with the idea of upgrading to a smart phone for a bit. Almost three months, actually. I was worried about others saying how addicted they were, and that I'd actually work more (if that's possible, LOL!) if I had a BlackBerry.

Anyway, I finally bit the bullet and made the upgrade about three weeks ago. And I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was not only NOT addicted to my BlackBerry, but I also have been spending less time on the computer. I used to check my email almost obsessively throughout the day (and evening, if I'm being honest ), and now I just give my emails a quick glance on the BlackBerry to see if there's anything urgent. If so, I take care of it or make myself a note to take care of it later. If not, I put the phone away and move on with my life.

So I guess my main point is that no, you don't need a BlackBerry to run a business. The extra features are great but your business won't die without them. There are my two cents; take them for what they're worth!

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Tammi Metzler ~ The Write Associate
Free call: "How to Write Email Subject Lines That Grab Attention!"

My employer provides me a Blackberry, and their network is set up to link the Blackberry to the company email. If you need to keep in touch ALL THE TIME, then a Blackberry is the way to go. (I am a computer tech for a major company, and so I need that capability.)

My wife, on the other hand, has no need for a Blackberry. A basic cell phone is sufficient for her.

I think that for most people, a basic cell phone would be enough. By getting a Blackberry, you'd be complicating your life and increasing your monthly cost for what probably would be nothing more than an electronic toy.

I've never had an iPhone, but I think the same thing would apply there.

Lots and lots of people have iPhones; maybe there is a business opportunity there for you, but I'm not sure what it would be.