Business Tools

There are a lot of business and productivity tools that you can get on your phone to make your life a little easier while you're away from your PC. Many of these are available as downloadable software applications, although some services are provided through SMS or require you have a mobile browser with internet access. The following is a list of sites that can make you more productive.

GetJar

Not the greatest site from a design standpoint, but it's very, very cool. GetJar offers thousands of FREE software applications. There are applications specific to the Symbian, Pocket PC, and Palm Operating systems, as well as at least several hundred developed in Java, which are compatible with practically all operating systems. Install an English-French dictionary, calculator, world almanac, periodic table, expense tracker, or shopping list software just to name a few.

AskMeNow

AskMeNow attempts to be the one stop shop for all your answers. After registering, you can call their service and ask any question. A team of live humans will investigate your question and send a response via SMS to your phone within minutes. The cost for the servie is $0.49. Alternatively, you can download their software to your phone and submit more standard questions through a form templates at no cost. You can find out more by reading Walt Mossberg's review of the service.

4INFO

4INFO offers many productivity tools through SMS or internet-based access (from your phone, go to http://wap.4INFO.net). You can get lookup local business listings, check stock quotes, Check flight arrival and departure times for flights in the US, and lookup local WiFi hotspots. For SMS submitted information, 4INFO has a really easy-to-use shorthand that's worth checking out. 4INFO also just recently introduced a text-based alert service that notifies you when stocks that you're tracking changes by a pre-defined percentage or hits a pre-defined price target. You should check it out.

AvantGo

Avant go is a FREE content service for smartphones using the Palm OS. Although the service is limited to few phones, it is powerful. AvantGo acts as an RSS reader for your smartphone, allowing you to retreive and read news from major news sources like the New York Times and Reuters, as well as your favorite blogs. It also has other useful services like locating Wi-Fi hotspots, learning new languages, and city guides.

Google

Google offers several SMS-based productivity tools. You can lookup local business and residential listings, check stock quotes, lookup dictionary definitions, lookup area codes and zip codes, and get conversions. One interesting use is Google's Q&A engine, which gives you answers to some simple questions using a unique query language: "population india", "who wrote hamlet", etc.

Synfonic

Synfonic offers similar information via SMS as many other services. You can lookup local business listings, check stock quotes, view flight schedules, and locate WiFi hotspots. The service also gives you the ability to check traffic, although this is limited to the San Francisco Bay Area. Symphonic's number isn't as easy to remember as other services. To reach Synfonic, you've got send your message to 16504307183. Another drawback is that the service is only available to registered Synfonic users, which is free. On the plus side, the company lets you create a customize dictionary of shorthand through their website. This comes in handy for folks who use the service frequently.

Vindigo

Vindigo offers several productivity tools. You can access the New York Times, receive traffic reports for roads in all major U.S. cities, and view city guides including restaurants, shops, bars, and services. It even has a public bathroom locator. The vindigo service is distributed through all major wireless carriers. Each carrier sets their own pricing. The vindigo website gives you step-by-step instructions on how to access the service from your phone.

Yahoo

Yahoo offers several productivity tools. Using Yahoo's SMS service, you can get lookup local listings, check stock quotes, lookup dictionary definitions, lookup area codes and zip codes, and check for local WiFi hotspots. Moreover, using Yahoo's Mobile Web product, you can do the above plus access your calendar and address book, and receive news and financial information. As with all web-based access via the cell phone there are some phone and carrier restrictions.

AirSet

AirSet offers the ability to consolidate all of your schedule information online. You can use a web browser or a mobile phone to manage your family, work and other group schedules and communications. Basic membership is free and you can get calendar reminders delivered directly to your phone at no charge (your mobile phone carrier may charge you to receive SMS messages - check your service plan). AirSet also offers a downloadable mobile client to give you direct control over your calendar from your phone.