All:

I’m considering writing a mobile app for either the blackberry or windows mobile platform to work with Highrise. I was curious what everyone thought about the market. I originally thought blackberry, since I see a ton of people using them, but as my friend pointed out, the recent blackberry outage makes me wonder if the “push” tech behind blackberry is on the way out.

The upside of Windows mobile is that I am a .net developer, so it would be easier on that end. But i see blackberries everywhere.

This forum may not be the best place to ask, but I’m not sure where else to ask.

Thanks.

I’ve owned most varieties of smart phones, and I would stay clear of Windows mobile. I’m currently using a Blackberry which I never have problems with and it is quite speedy. Of course there is always the tempting iPhone, but uggghhhh…..why oh why must it be on AT&T/Cingular:)

there is always the tempting iPhone, but uggghhhh…..why oh why must it be on AT&T/Cingular

Exactly. I was at DCA the other day with a colleague, and his Cingular phone was getting no signal at all on the above-ground Metro platform. It’s amazing that at the closest airport to our nation’s capital, a major carrier would have a complete dead spot.

I use windows mobile, not because I have any particular affinity for microsoft, but because it’s been the most useable and adaptable smart phone I’ve had. Out of the box, I hate the UI, but I’ve been able to tweak it using 3rd party apps, and that’s made it perfect for my needs. It also syncs effortlessly with outlook, which is a huge plus—maybe you could take advantage of the outlook sync? I think you’ll find MANY clients for the windows mobile platform. I’d love you for it. :)

I’ll say that my various BlackBerrys never froze once during the 3 years I had them and I’d highly recommend a BlackBerry to anybody who asks. I’m on an iPhone now though, which is in a league of its own.

Both…I’ve been a windows mobile user for a few years now. My understanding, correct me if I’m wrong Blackberry users, is that the browser in the Blackberry SUCKS. I’m currently using a Motorola Q wich is the best I’ve used so far. I’m just frustrated that Microsoft continues to separate the Smartphone version and the PDA version (I understand the Windows mobile 6 is some better but I haven’t had the opportunity to try it) when they do essentially the same thing. At least you can get other (Opera for example) browsers for the WM phones.

All that being said. I’m very excited about the Curve from Blackberry. The phone seems to be much better than past Blackberry phones, and the camera and media stuff is what put it over the top for me. I just have to wait for my contract to get closer to the end AND the Curve to come to Verizon (read above gripes by others about AT&T). So…for me BOTH platforms would be good.

Slapshotw, not that I want to turn this into an iphone thread, but I’d be interested to hear how your transition from a BB to iPhone went (and if you’re happy with that decision)...

Dusty1767, With regard to the BB browser, I’ve used browsers on the Treo, WindowsMobile, and BB, and I have no real issues with the BB browser. It has the typical limitations of a mobile browser however. You can also set an option to have it emulate PocketIE to the web sites you are visiting. Another option is OperaMini (free download).

Hi all-

Just a quick note to say that I am AMAZED with the iPhone’s ability to view Highrise, complete with streaming AJAX in the Search field, flawlessly. Credit is due to 37signals for strong CSS-based / standards-compliant web coding, and further credit is due to Apple for putting a desktop calibre web browser on a smartphone for the first time.

I have tried BlackBerry, Treo, and Windows Mobile. The desktop-class Mail app, web browser, maps, and calendar, not to mention untouched video/audio capabilities of the iPhone have made it the best mobile device I have ever used.

A note to author above re: AT&T cellular reception – my iPhone replaced my Windows Mobile Blackjack device on AT&T, and the iPhone has even better reception. While I have not been to D.C. with it, I have great reception throughout NYC/NJ/CT.

If anyone needs assistance with iPhone and/or iPhone as it relates to Highrise, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best,
Eric

Eric Catania
Owner, Digital Reality

Mac Sales * Networking * Training * Multimedia
Certified Apple Consultant
Apple Authorized Business Agent
www.digitalrealitydesign.net
eric at digitalrealitydesign dot net

My vote – BlackBerry

I currently backup contacts every couple of weeks then faff around importing into Outlook before syncing with my blackberry. To be able to update tasks, notes and access contacts via BB would be great.

Based in the UK we are still awaiting the iPhone!

Best
Myles Davidson
www.i-kos.com

I also vote Blackberry.
Simple optimized interface to add contacts, add notes to contacts, add tasks to contacts. Covers most of everything I need to do while mobile.

I’ve been using PDAs and Smartphones since they came out. Started with a Psion (which has since morphed into the Symbian platform used by Sony-Erickson and a few others.)

By far the best combination pda/phone is the Palm Treo. It is fast, stable and there are tons of apps for it.

Having said that if it’s Highrise compatibility you are after there is only one choice….the Iphone. The mobile browsers on the Palm, WindowsMobile and Blackberry do not include the full feature set that you have on a desktop. Java implementation is spotty or missing altogether. The Iphone, while not as good as a phone or a pda, trumps the others when it comes to the Browser. It also has the best media player of the lot.

For me, there are too many shortcomings in the Iphone to justify it to run the few internet apps that don’t run on my Treo and I can’t justify having a second phone account just for those (especially not a AT&T/Cingular acct.)

Companies like 37signals should seriously look at the mobile market and design ports for their software to work with the major players (Blackberry, Palm and WM.) The Blackberry runs on Java and there is a Java package available for the Palm. One JavaM app could cover both.

As a long-time windows mobile user and someone new to highrise… I would have to add another vote for….. the iphone. If highrise is important it is an amazing device for it.

I got the iphone when I “dropped by” an AT+T store and was blown away by it. I was not planning on using it as my primary phone since it doesn’t fully integrate with Outlook. I decided to go in search of some workarounds for tasks etc., as well as other ways to optimize its use… which in turn led me to highrise. I am sold on both!

I am finding is that the iphone is SO good using highrise and the resulting task management that my wm phone is off most of the time… and may be on ebay soon.

I have heard a lot of folks say the phone isn’t a “business phone”. I believed that too… for the first few days I had it. Between Highrise, getting used to the keyboard and the amazing browser on it, it is every bit the work phone I need.

Now if I could only get Jott working with it….

I got the iphone when I “dropped by” an AT+T store and was blown away by it. I was not planning on using it as my primary phone since it doesn’t fully integrate with Outlook. I decided to go in search of some workarounds for tasks etc., as well as other ways to optimize its use… which in turn led me to highrise. I am sold on both!

I am finding is that the iphone is SO good using highrise and the resulting task management that my wm phone is off most of the time… and may be on ebay soon.

I have heard a lot of folks say the phone isn’t a “business phone”. I believed that too… for the first few days I had it. Between Highrise, getting used to the keyboard and the amazing browser on it, it is every bit the work phone I need.

I am new to highrise and own a Motorola Q (today); are there any settings to be adjusted as I cannot not logonto highrisehq via IE on the Q

rfgbiv,

Unfortunately, most mobile web browsers cannot handle HR as the nice ajax features which give that desktop-like look and feel aren’t supported by mobile-IE, blackberries, or Treos. The exception as you can see above is the iphone, which has a rather full featured version of Apple’s Safari web browser and can display most web pages full screen like it’s desktop counterpart.

Hi and thanks. I would think this would be a priority as this app is clearly for people out in the field in addition to the office. I may not have been clear but I can;t even get to my page at all. I get two to three times the following prompt “Info you exchange with this site cannot be viewed or changed by others. However the name, date or issuing authority for the sites security certificate is invalid; do you want to proceed? Than I get a message “Thank you for signing up for HighRise” and IE closes???

Blackberry please.

rfgbiv,

First I am in 100% agreement that there should be at least some basic level of mobile access for PDA’s and smartphones to HR data. As you point out, many, if not most of us who need this type of system are very mobile and unfortunately we all are going to run out and buy iPhones just yet, especially when we can barely afford the hundreds of $$$ / yr. for HR:) However, until they do that, and I haven’t seen any indication it is coming soon, we are stuck with having to wait until we are in front of a PC to get access to HR info and the daily task email, just isn’t adequate. In addition, the type of behavior you are seeing is basically what you’ll see on any mobile browser, as it is not just a matter of the page displaying properly, but the complexities of the site design will cause the mobile browsers to completely choke on one thing or another. The only one I’ve found that can, SOMETIMES, display HR pages is the new Opera Mini browser, but even that gets frequent Java exceptions and you can forget about any type of editing or searching.

Blackberry. Git-R-Done!

WM6. And this from someone who used to work for the Evil Empire and avoided WM like the plague. I have the T-Mobile dash, and it does everything I need it to. iPhone is sexy and great, say, for my manager, but the people in the trenches are not likely to have an iPhone.

BOLDBLACKBERRY BLACKBERRY BLACKBERRY /BOLD

You can use Highrise on any mobile phone with nContxt.

More info here.

Free for first week, $5/month afterwards.

BlackBerry Rulez

Love my blackberry and would love to see a lightweight Highrise client app for it (I can use Operamini or the builtin browser but there’s a lot of overhead for those – slow and too much clutter. A portable version should be scaled down to core functionality in short, easy lists)

blackberry too