Must-Have Mobile Applications

We've had tons of discussions about cell phones here on OfficeArrow. Whether you're a Blackberry fan or an iPhone lover, we all have one thing in common: a need of mobile applications. The reason these phones are so integral in our daily lives is because they give us the ability to stay connected, and mobile applications are a big part of this. As I'm somewhat new to the Smart Phone club, I've done a lot of research on how to get the most out of my cell and would like to share the information with you. Here are my recommendations for the must-have mobile apps.

I just learned about this little gem...I know, I'm way behind. The web experience on my Blackberry is drab. Pages are all chopped up with giant fonts and tiny links. It makes me want to run to my desktop computer for anything I need online. But, the reason I got this phone is so I don't have to attach my computer to my hip to avoid missing things. Opera Mini finally gives us the web experience we deserve. It's a simple browser for your phone that allows you to view web pages as they are on your computer. It downloads to your phone and installs in a snap. The pages look just like they do on your computer, and while they're small, it allows you to zoom-in to areas you're interested in. Clicking on links is also way easy. The download is free, so definitely check it out.

I'm pretty sure I couldn't live without this one. Even though my phone comes equipped with GPS, I didn't want to take the time to learn how to use it. So instead, I just use Google. It calculates your location and gives you step-by-step directions to where you need to go. Of course, it has all the great search features of regular Google too. I can't tell you how many times I've been in the car, wandering around aimlessly looking for a place to eat when I've pulled out my trusty Blackberry. I simply type in "Restaurants" and my area code and poof, tons of choices. Google Maps is also so intuitive; it will simply pull the information from its listing and give directions. This application is essential to anyone with a phone and web connection. NOTE: I have had some trouble with Google calculating my location incorrectly and giving me very hard to follow directions. So watch out.

ShoZu is a free mobile web application that allows you to upload your photos and videos to a number of different sites. Once you sign up with ShoZu, you'll be able to upload your pictures to their site and in turn, they upload them to YouTube, Facebook, Flickr and Blogger just to name a few. It only takes a second to register and then you're well on your way to sharing your memories with friends and family. I must note that setup is a little difficult just because everything takes longer on the web in mobile format. It's worth the time it takes though.

I'm still playing around with this one, but so far so good. This little slice of techno-heaven finally allows us to view documents and spreadsheets on our phones. To do so, simply upload your docs using the upload form. You'll have to do this on your computer though since you probably don't have them saved on your phone. From there you can edit. Then, save them. You'll be able to retrieve your documents from anywhere with an internet connection including your phone. You can also share your account with others. This comes in handy when you need to review something and your computer is inaccessible. All the other person has to do is upload the document and you can retrieve it right from your phone. Right now, Google Docs is only compatible with Word and Excel versions 2003 and older. Luckily, Office 2007 has a feature to convert our documents to that format, so no harm no foul.

These mobile applications are what I consider essential for staying in-touch in a mobile world. I would also recommend the entire Google Mobile suite as all the applications are beneficial. Let me know your experiences with these apps. Have you used them before? How necessary are they for your daily life? I'm just now starting to utilize all that my phone can do and it's proving to be an enlightening experience. Share your stories here and let me know your favorites.