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** The BEST Cell phone for Realtors

By
Real Estate Agent with Century 21

I've been doing some research to find a new phone. Which cell phone do you use? Do you like it and would you recommend one over the other? There are many options out there. I have looked into a few Cell Phone Provider and may be switching service provider. I am debating between Sprint and AT&T. I've looked at the following cell phones.

1) - Palm Centro

2) - Blackberry Pearl

3)- Moto Q 9c

4) - Blackberry Curve

Which one of the above phones would you recommend? The features I'm looking for is one with Speakerphone, BlueTooth, Camera, Long battery life.

Does anyone currently used any of the above phones? If so, what do you think of it and would you recommend it?

 

Show All Comments Sort:
Jim Quinn
Century 21 - Anaheim, CA
North Orange County Real Estate

Robert, thanks for the comment. It might get tricky if every client used different companies. :)

Jun 01, 2008 04:34 PM
Joshua Vida
Paradigm Realty Solutions - Elkhart, IN

None of the above. I'd research the iPhone 3g, coming out July 11.  With the new App Store and 2.0 software upgrade no phone can do what it can, as good as it can do it.  I've been a pocket pc/phone guy for the last 6 yrs, and I'm completely blown away by the NEW iPhone 3g.  Generation 1 left many things to be desired, which is why I didn't get one, but they've seriously upped the ante with the 3g.  Also, check out Apple's new Mobile Me for the iphone, which is Microsoft Exchange for the rest of us (push e-mail, contacts, pics, etc.)  About time!

Jul 06, 2008 07:21 PM
Janie Diggs
Realty Executives Liberty - Hinesville, GA
ABR, ASR, GRI

I am currently on the market for a new real estate phone myself.  I ahve heard some bad things about the many "crashes" that the new iPhone has.  From the specifications, it sounds like a great phone that I would like to invest in, however, I think I need to wait til the get those kinks out, or I will be in the same boat as my TREO now (that is always crashing)-- by the way it is my 5th Treo - all of which was replaced due to a fault.  I spoke to another REALTOR with the same problem and he said that when Sprint finally got back to him they said that it crashed because he syncs the data with Outlook. I do that too, so why make a phone "compatible" with software, when it causes it crash---wouldn't that mean it is NOT compatible?? LOL

Any feedback from anyone who actually purchased the new real estate iPhone?

Jul 29, 2008 01:32 PM
Laura Rubinchuk Schwartz
Keller Williams Realty - Arlington, VA
Your Northern Virginia and D.C. Realtor

Hey Jim, I love my Blackberry. For a full keyboard, go with the curve - the pearl you still have to toggle between letters on numbers 2-9. Also, the Motorola phones tend to have a LOT of problems over their lives, so be careful! Hope this helps.

Jul 29, 2008 01:36 PM
Joseph D. Federico
Realty ONE Group-MVP - Naples, FL
Southwest Florida Homes with Joe Federico

Jim-The Blackberry is the way to go.

Joe

Jul 29, 2008 02:49 PM
Jim Quinn
Century 21 - Anaheim, CA
North Orange County Real Estate

Joshua, I heard about the new iphone with super speed too.

Jul 29, 2008 04:22 PM
Jim Quinn
Century 21 - Anaheim, CA
North Orange County Real Estate

Janie, I heard many problems with the Treo.

Jul 29, 2008 04:23 PM
Jim Quinn
Century 21 - Anaheim, CA
North Orange County Real Estate

Laura, Joseph,

I heard that the blackberry curve is the way to go as well. Great functions and speakerphone.

Jul 29, 2008 04:24 PM
Larry Riggs
Century 21 Redwood - Frederick, MD
GRI, SRS Your Frederick County Specialist

Not long ago I was in your shoes. Part of my decision process was that I use Top Producer and I wanted to have the mobile access. I talked to TP users with the three systems that support the program. The Palm users really had nothing good to say about their phones except the company was good about replacing the phones when the crashed (regularly). Windows users were pretty much the same. I really heard no complaints from the Blackberry users. I looked at all the models and chose the pearl. I love it. I was concerned about the size of the keyboard at first but found it easier to use than my previous phone. I've probably had it for 7-8 months and have no complaints. I love it. Although I'm not a small guy I really don't like the bigger phones. Some of the keyboards on the bigger phones are better for texting but I didn't consider the tradeoff worth it.

Jul 30, 2008 01:35 AM
Jim Quinn
Century 21 - Anaheim, CA
North Orange County Real Estate

Larry, thanks for the input. The pearl is a nice phone. The only drawback I have heard is that the memory gets low and you would have to reboot the phone by shutting it off. The other is trying to get used to the suretype keyboard. Other than that, I think it accomplished alot for such a compact phone.

Jul 30, 2008 11:00 AM
Michael Cather
Rodeo Realty - West Hills, CA
Real Estate Broker

I'm in the market to buy another cell phone and found this blog informative.  Thanks for posing the question, Jim!

Aug 14, 2008 04:36 PM
Anonymous
Gloria LaRoche (Zip Realty)

I found this blog.  Gotta get a new phone for real estate.  Probably ATT.  I think the choice is between the Blackberry and the new 3G iphone. 

Anybody here have the iphone long?  Seems like the Blackberry has a good history but don't know if I like those little buttons.

Aug 31, 2008 07:12 AM
#23
Jim Quinn
Century 21 - Anaheim, CA
North Orange County Real Estate

Michael, I'm glad you found it helpful. Thanks for stopping by.

Gloria, I have heard that many agents really like their BB. I have not heard negative remarks about them.

Sep 02, 2008 07:13 PM
Anonymous
Brian

I like the blackberry too, but the lack of infrared is what has been keeping me away from it.  Do the Palms really stink?  That new Palm Pro looks reallllllllly nice!  & it has IR!  Not massively available quite yet but should be soon (Says the guy at the ATT store)

 http://www.palm.com/us/products/smartphones/treopro/specs.html

Dec 12, 2008 07:26 AM
#25
JM Padron, CCIM, CCP, MRICS
THE JMTEAM NETWORK - Dade City, FL
CCIM, CCP, International Commercial Broker

I have tried almost every model since the PDAs came to play and believe me for business and for International communications there is nothing better that the Blackberry. I can say this with a strong argument since I tried the first blackberry which in fact seemed more like a toy than a phone and it did not work well at all, however the Blackberry's new models are the best ever!

Dec 12, 2008 08:59 AM
Tina Maraj
RE/MAX One - Fullerton, CA
Celebrating 30 Years of Real Estate Sales

I like the blackberry curve. It works for me and when I drop it, it does not break!

Dec 12, 2008 10:24 AM
Anonymous
Luann Whitlow, Keller Williams Realty CAP, Savannah,GA

Can any one recommend a Blackberry or another dependable phone that has the built in lockbox key along w/all the other obvious features?

Jun 13, 2009 04:29 AM
#28
Anonymous
Dan

im new to the market of realtors myself and have used the motorola q9c for almost 2 years now , its been a great phone since day 1 with sprint and the battery life is incredible, but now in looking at the palm treo 755p it has the infa-red built in and has all features and more then motorola 9qc except no navigation which i think is rather cheap of them but the pro has navigation but no infra-red built in would need to buy the wireless device xtra... any complaints on treo palm 755p model

Jun 28, 2009 04:35 AM
#29
Jim Quinn
Century 21 - Anaheim, CA
North Orange County Real Estate

Brian, Jim, Tina, I just recently got my BB curve. It is the best phone ever!

Luann, BB does not have the lockbox key built in. It is only a small drawback which I can live without.

Dan, don't know much about the treo since I never had one.

Jul 14, 2009 01:45 PM
Anonymous
Rick Carle

Jim, I'm looking at Blackberry, what carrier did you chose?

Jul 20, 2010 04:08 AM
#31