On the Go: Five Free iPhone Apps for Small Business

No matter where you are, your iPhone can let you get your work done without an office. These free applications let you edit documents, attend meetings and even pass out business cards, with nothing more than your phone.

1. Evernote

One of the best online note-taking tools, the Evernote iPhone application is useful for taking written, audio and even photographic notes. You can synchronize your notes between your iPhone and other computers you use, and share them with other members of your team. Whether you're snapping a photo of a business card or recording verbal notes as you drive, Evernote can help you stay organized and get things done while on the go.

2. Snapdat

Have you ever found yourself at a meeting or event without your business cards? Rather than trying to dictate your contact information to a new connection, Snapdat allows you to send a virtual business card to them. If your new contact is also a SnapDat user, you can enter his or her username in your iPhone and you'll be automatically added to their iPhone address book. If he or she does not use SnapDat, you can enter an email address and send a vCard (which can be automatically imported into most address books, like Outlook or Gmail).

3. Cisco WebEx Meeting Center

WebEx has become a fairly standard tool for web-based meetings, letting you share information online. You can now join WebEx meetings with your iPhone, letting you still make a meeting even if you're out running errands. In email invitations to join WebEx meetings, there is now typically a "Join by iPhone" link - as long as you have the application already installed on your phone, simply clicking that link in your iPhone email application will load the meeting. You'll be able to see documents, screen shares and other participants just as easily as on your computer.

4. Mobile Banking on AT&T

You can even handle your banking through your iPhone. Just about anything you can do on your computer, like transferring money or paying bills can be done through this application. At this time, the Mobile Banking application will allow you to handle your finances if you bank with Chase, Citi Cards, Regions, Sun Trust, USAA or Wachovia. Many other banks, such as Bank of America, have created their own stand-alone applications. You may have to check with your bank in particular to manage your funds.

5. Documents Free

Need to open a file from your phone? Documents Free can open files made in Microsoft Word and Excel, Open Office, Numbers and other major office software packages. You can also edit those files and synchronize them back to versions on your computer. Document Free uses Google Sync to manage the synchronization process. While you probably won't want to write a whole document on your iPhone, this application can let you make minor changes while on the go.

If there are any web-based applications you use on a regular basis, there may already be a version available that allows you to use it easily on your iPhone. Harvest's time-tracking and expense reporting tools, for instance, are available in a free iPhone application, as long as you're already using the online application.

Are you an iPhone-user? What apps keep you organized and efficient?