I have been an employee at Wolfedale Electric for just over 7 years. When I started the foreman and project managers were using the old ‘Mike’ style handsets. As technology evolves we; our Foremen, Project Managers, and Lead Hands have jumped into the era of Blackberry Smartphone, each having little or no practical hands on instruction due to time constraints. As a company, the transition from the ‘old’ style cell phones to the new Blackberry Smartphone, we have had our share of growing pains due to lack of information. I myself have been a Blackberry user for about 8 years. I have always found they serve as a very useful tool; a great resource of information when in a pinch. I felt by writing this blog I could provide everyone some insight into exactly what your BB (blackberry) can do and how it can make your life easier.
First let’s walk through some set-up directions:
Choosing/creating a ‘Blackberry ID’; this is the e-mail address you will use to sign in and download ‘apps’ in the blackberry app store. Scroll down to the bottom right side of the sign in screen and click or tap (depending on your device) on the ‘create new id’ icon. After you have this set-up you can go into your set-up screen and set your e-mail address(s) up accordingly, of course to do this you will need your e-mail address and password for the account.
Helpful ‘apps’- Some pre-loaded on your smart phone/others available for free download. The most important app that I have found for the blackberry is under your ‘applications’ folder, it is called ‘Blackberry Protect’. What this app allows you to do is enter your primary e-mail for the phone and set up an account of sorts. This app will automatically back up all the information on your device, including BBM (blackberry messenger) contacts, and save them to the account you have created. This account is available from any PC by entering your login information; it is run and kept secure by Research in Motion (RIM), makers of the blackberry. This is a particularly important app as I know many of us ‘forget’ or don’t find the time to sync and back up our blackberry’s regularly or if you ever lose your BB or it gets damaged and requires replaced.
Jackie (President of Dial One Wolfedale Electric) will appreciate this next app – GasBuddy; everyone with a gas card has the ability to search from their current location for the closest gas station and one with the best gas prices.
Another fun to use app: the VLingo. This app is similar to what that ‘other’ Smartphone company has where you can speak to the app and it can do a variety of things such as schedule meetings, lunches, or any type of activity you like. It will also send txt messages, e-mails or meeting requests, all with the touch of a button and by speaking to your phone!
Two other apps I highly recommend are Drive Safely and Documents to go. Documents to go comes preloaded on your phone and this app allows you to view, edit or create documents from your BB and send them to whoever you like, or yourself, this is especially handy when you find yourself stuck in a meeting and you need to get time sheets in to Monica (Office Administrator Dial One Wolfedale Electric.)
The DriveSafely app (which by the way is free until December 31) is for all of us BB junkies who can’t wait to read emails and text messages until we’ve finished driving. This function offers the capability to not only read messages it will also (in conjunction with app-Vlingo) allow you to respond to them without taking your eyes off the road, (how cool is that!)
Now forgetting appointments, being late for meetings and not completing items on your list of things to do, are a thing of the past. Your BB Smartphone comes complete with built in calendar, memo pad and task creator to help you stay organized, on time and allow you to make up ‘To Do’ lists while on the go. These apps also tie directly in with your Outlook e-mail which allows you to upload and download all the To Do lists or tasks you already have on your computer.
In addition to the above apps I have one other function (as it is a pet peeve of mine) that many may find quite useful. No one need know whether your emails are being sent via your BB device or PC with your signature edit on your BB device. You just need to go into the e-mail set-up tab on your phone and then click on or tap, the appropriate e-mail address in choose ‘edit’ this will allow you to set your name, signature, auto CC or any other features that outlook would let you choose.
Now for the best part, RIM is a locally owned and operated company based in Waterloo Ontario. They have brought a lot of jobs to the region and they continue to grow and contribute to the community. Why are so many people supporting the ‘other’ smartphone maker? Well the most common reason I hear is “look at all the apps they have” or “the IPhone is so cool”. I do agree that the iPhone has unlimited apps and does look pretty cool, however I can honestly say that the Blackberry is perfect for the average ‘Business Professional’ and Trades Person.
Thank you for your time and I hope this gave you some more insight into what your blackberry can do for you!
Pieter Mueleman
Project Manager & Estimator
pmueleman@dialonewolfedale.com
Dial One Wolfedale Electric
Giving You the Power!
First let’s walk through some set-up directions:
Choosing/creating a ‘Blackberry ID’; this is the e-mail address you will use to sign in and download ‘apps’ in the blackberry app store. Scroll down to the bottom right side of the sign in screen and click or tap (depending on your device) on the ‘create new id’ icon. After you have this set-up you can go into your set-up screen and set your e-mail address(s) up accordingly, of course to do this you will need your e-mail address and password for the account.
Helpful ‘apps’- Some pre-loaded on your smart phone/others available for free download. The most important app that I have found for the blackberry is under your ‘applications’ folder, it is called ‘Blackberry Protect’. What this app allows you to do is enter your primary e-mail for the phone and set up an account of sorts. This app will automatically back up all the information on your device, including BBM (blackberry messenger) contacts, and save them to the account you have created. This account is available from any PC by entering your login information; it is run and kept secure by Research in Motion (RIM), makers of the blackberry. This is a particularly important app as I know many of us ‘forget’ or don’t find the time to sync and back up our blackberry’s regularly or if you ever lose your BB or it gets damaged and requires replaced.
Jackie (President of Dial One Wolfedale Electric) will appreciate this next app – GasBuddy; everyone with a gas card has the ability to search from their current location for the closest gas station and one with the best gas prices.
Another fun to use app: the VLingo. This app is similar to what that ‘other’ Smartphone company has where you can speak to the app and it can do a variety of things such as schedule meetings, lunches, or any type of activity you like. It will also send txt messages, e-mails or meeting requests, all with the touch of a button and by speaking to your phone!
Two other apps I highly recommend are Drive Safely and Documents to go. Documents to go comes preloaded on your phone and this app allows you to view, edit or create documents from your BB and send them to whoever you like, or yourself, this is especially handy when you find yourself stuck in a meeting and you need to get time sheets in to Monica (Office Administrator Dial One Wolfedale Electric.)
The DriveSafely app (which by the way is free until December 31) is for all of us BB junkies who can’t wait to read emails and text messages until we’ve finished driving. This function offers the capability to not only read messages it will also (in conjunction with app-Vlingo) allow you to respond to them without taking your eyes off the road, (how cool is that!)
Now forgetting appointments, being late for meetings and not completing items on your list of things to do, are a thing of the past. Your BB Smartphone comes complete with built in calendar, memo pad and task creator to help you stay organized, on time and allow you to make up ‘To Do’ lists while on the go. These apps also tie directly in with your Outlook e-mail which allows you to upload and download all the To Do lists or tasks you already have on your computer.
In addition to the above apps I have one other function (as it is a pet peeve of mine) that many may find quite useful. No one need know whether your emails are being sent via your BB device or PC with your signature edit on your BB device. You just need to go into the e-mail set-up tab on your phone and then click on or tap, the appropriate e-mail address in choose ‘edit’ this will allow you to set your name, signature, auto CC or any other features that outlook would let you choose.
Now for the best part, RIM is a locally owned and operated company based in Waterloo Ontario. They have brought a lot of jobs to the region and they continue to grow and contribute to the community. Why are so many people supporting the ‘other’ smartphone maker? Well the most common reason I hear is “look at all the apps they have” or “the IPhone is so cool”. I do agree that the iPhone has unlimited apps and does look pretty cool, however I can honestly say that the Blackberry is perfect for the average ‘Business Professional’ and Trades Person.
Thank you for your time and I hope this gave you some more insight into what your blackberry can do for you!
Pieter Mueleman
Project Manager & Estimator
pmueleman@dialonewolfedale.com
Dial One Wolfedale Electric
Giving You the Power!
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