Barack Obama may have been the best advertisement for the BlackBerry, giving sales the much-needed shot in the arm because of the threat posed by the iPhone and other smartphones that have flooded the market. But, no matter how many new models of the BlackBerry are introduced, no matter how high profile the endorsements (unintended or intended) are, there are reasons the iPhone will win any competition hands down. Attorneys are no different from the rest of us – they like their tech gadgets too. And because they know where the future lies, they’re migrating to the new iPhone, because:
- The apps are oh-so-cool: With the release of the SDK for the iPhone, developers and third party app aficionados have never had it so good. There are thousands of applications being written specifically for the iPhone – for general and specific usage. Attorneys get more than their fair share of apps too, and if you’re interested in the best of them, you could check out this list. I must warn you that they’re pretty addictive, so if you get used to using them on a regular basis, you’re not going to be able to do without them.
- You can check mail and surf the web: Sure, other phones offer this facility too. But surfing the Internet using the iPhone is a real joy because of the browsing experience that Safari offers. Websites are displayed either horizontally or vertically, depending on how you hold the phone or how you set preferences. Suffice it to say that you’re able to do pretty much all that you can using a computer, so if you want Internet on the go, switch to the iPhone.
- It’s a style statement: Need we say more than this? The iPhone’s sleek design and stylish look make heads turn. The large touchscreen makes using the phone a pleasure, with large and easy-to-use controls. Yes, it’s a sort of status symbol, one you would do well to own if you can afford it.
- It’s useful too: Besides the style factor, there’s also the utility factor – text messages are threaded in the style of email so that you can follow the conversation thread instead of having to switch between sent and received messages. There are other useful utilities as well, but my personal favorite is the seamless way you can add attachments to emails. You can also find hotels, restaurants and cinemas near you using Google maps and click on them to call and make reservations.
- More and more lawyers are switching to iPhones: It’s official – the ABA Technology Survey reports that more and more lawyers are switching over the iPhone and turning in their BlackBerries. So unless you want to be left behind, it’s time to jump on this bandwagon!
By-line:
This article is written by Kat Sanders, who regularly blogs on the topic of court reporter school at her blog Court Reporter Schools. She welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: katsanders25@gmail.com.
