Our MLS has been on Supra since I joined in 2003. At that time we all had our little black E-key keypads that we entered codes into and plugged into a gray lock box to get key access.

Beginning in 2004 in what seemed like a huge technological advance, our board, The Des Moines Area Association of Realtors started switching out our gray electronic lock boxes for infra red models. The E-key keypads could do both lock boxes so we continued to fumble along with them however.

If you're familiar with the devices, they had to be put in a cradle hooked to a phone line which updated nightly. Forget to put it in the cradle and you could only use the key three times before it wouldn't open boxes. Then, if you were in the field, you had to call in and navigate your way through a phone tree to get a 12 digit update code. Copy it down wrong and you had to call in again. Seems like when it happened to me it was always raining and my cell phone battery was about to die. What a pain! That is if I'd even remembered to bring the thing on that occasion. Oh man!

But no more! Starting in about 2006 Supra started making its E-key application available for certain cell phones, or Smartphones. Wow! My life changed. I never forget my phone and so that made it certain that I always had my E-Key. Furthermore, Supra hasmobile listing data, an agent roster, client search manager, showing report and more helpful tools. I find it indispensable for my business. I use it every day. Supra even sent out a rep that did free training for our board, you can check their website at GE/Supra for a schedule of when they might offer the course in your area.

Now, Supra for Smartphone*Source Supra/GE is available for over 40 phones:

Blackberry: 8800 series, Bold, Curve, Pearl, Pearl Flip and Storm *Blackberrys however require the use of a fob which I wouldn't like.

Windows Mobile Smartphone Infared models: 8125, 8525, HTC Mogul, HTC p4300, iPAQ 6900 Series, MDA, PPC-6700/6800, Treo 700w/wx, Treo 750, Treo Pro (850), Treo 800w, XV 6700/6800

Palm models: Centro, Treo 600, Treo 650, Treo 680, Treo 700p, Treo 755p

Carriers: These carriers offer compatible models: Alltel, AT&T, Bell, Cellular South, Rogers, Sprint, T-Mobile, Telus, Unical, US Cellular, Verizon.

If you are still carrying around an Activekey (newer version) keypad you owe it to yourself to research whether you could get a lot more functionality over having e-key professional on your Smartphone. Although phone choices are limited, they have increased from just being offered on a few phones. Having been a keypad user and now having the application on my phone, I can tell you that next to my website, this is absolutely the last tool I would ever give up.