I know, I know. You have an iPhone. That’s cool. I don’t. I prefer my Android device and I’ve found some pretty cool Android apps for business that I’d like to share with you. Yes, even with you Apple heads because chances are, you can find them for iOS, too.
iPhone vs Android (Photo credit: nrkbeta)
Windows phone folks? Not sure, but I’m guessing that at least one of them will be available for you, too.
We do everything on computers these days, don’t we? We’re connected almost 24/7 now, since our connectedness extended out via mobile. I have to say that I do love the ability to carry my business with me wherever I go in a small mobile device. I can connect with any of my clients or my wonderful and talented contractors in one of several different ways when I really need to, and I spend most of my afternoons running around and out of the office. That used to mean “incommunicado.”
I remember the 80s when I was managing bank branches. I’d go out on “sales calls” and nobody knew where I was. I could actually visit some realtors or other vendors, or I could go home. Who’d know? But I swear… that.. never… happened!
But it could have then. Nobody can get away with anything now.
Seriously, I can call anyone I need to, or I can text, IM, Google Plus, Twitter, or Facebook with them. Having a smart phone or tablet computer to have the ability to reach people and to give them the ability to reach you is just becoming more important every day. Zo…
Let’s get started! I have 10 killer Android apps for business that will help things running smoothly, no matter where you happen to be:
1. GDocs
If you’re like me, you run your business with Google Drive and Docs. It’s so convenient to share things with other people and working in the cloud is just more efficient. Everything is there for you, when you need it. GDocs is free, and gives you access to documents, spreadsheets, presentations, images, etc. on your Google Drive.
2. Bump
Business cards tend to pile up, don’t they? Well, they don’t have to anymore. If you want to store another Android OR iPhone users’ contact information — just bump phones together. How cool is that? You can bump to exchange photos, too, and store all the information in the cloud. I like it!
3. Google Voice
See the phone number to the right of your screen? (You may have to scroll down a tad.) That’s my Google Voice number. I love Google Voice because I can show that number to anyone in the world and have free call screening, free texting, and I can even make International phone calls for free on my mobile phone. It’s a great way to do business because though you can hook up your mobile and your home number to Google Voice, you don’t have to give it to the world.
Make Google Voice your secretary, too. You want to know when someone calls, but you also want to be sure they’re someone you want to talk when you’re involved with coding an image map with 150 coordinates? Google Voice tells you who’s calling (in their own words, as the system makes the caller say his or her name), and then it asks if you want to take the call or send it to voice mail. Pretty sweet. But what’s better is that Google Voice is free.
4. Evernote
This is available for the iPhone, too, I think , and it’s another free application. It’s a great desktop or mobile application, actually. Evernote allows you to collect Web information and store web pages, videos, URLs, and images in one organized folder. I use it for research, often, and I’m guessing you will, too.
5. Scatterslides
Scatterslides isn’t a free app, but at $9.99, it’s one worth having if you do a lot of presentations. Scatterslides allows you to stream your presentations via Wi-Fi to a big screen. Works with Open Office or Microsoft Office.
6. Cab4Me
When you go to unfamiliar cities on business, you often wonder how you’ll get from point A to point B. Some trips, you’ll just hire a car, but what if you’re in that town for just a few hours? You’ll want to take a cab to and from the presentation. Because you probably came via air, you’re good to go when you arrive. You’ll be able to get a cab right at the airport. But what about when you leave the meeting? Do you know where to get a cab then? With Cab4Me, you will. Just order up a cab with a tap of your screen.
7. WiFi Analyzer
Want to know how strong the signal is in a place where you aren’t even sure there is one? This app can find out for you. It helps you to pick the fastest most reliable signal, too.
8. Weather Bomb
If you’re used to being in winter weather now, do you know what clothes you’ll need to stay comfortable for a week in Florida? If you think it’s a swim suit, think again. We’re running at about 70 in the daytime, but at night, it gets a LOT colder. I know I’m a wuss because I’ve lived here for a long time, but it goes down into the 30’s some nights. Just don’t think it’s warm day and night during winter, because it’s not. ANywyay,… Weather Bomb will keep you prepared for all weather, no matter where you are.
9. SwiftKey 3
Want to type better on your mobile device? I’m not terribly good at it, though I’m a very fast typist on my QWERTY keyword at home. No matter how good you are, SwiftKey 3 makes you look better because it makes more accurate corrections. No! It’s NOT asbestos that makes the heart grow fonder, phone. Jeez…
10. Brainwaves – T. U. S.©
Want a sound sleep? This app takes away the stress of the day and lets you sleep as sound as a tomcat with a belly full of chicken. What’s better than that when you’re in a hotel and know you have to be up early again tomorrow for a 7:30 a.m. breakfast meeting? You need that sleep! Brainwaves allows you to see visualizations on your screen, if you need them, but you’ll hear rain or waves and music that is so boring that it’s bound to put even the most cranky of you to sleep.
So, there you have it. Check these killer apps out and see any or all of them are for you.
