A few 'before I buy' newbie questions

[Colin]

I'm currently in a V3 and am considering the iPhone because of the large, easy to read screen. I'm certainly not old, but due to a cataract, my eyesight isn't what it was. I've looked at most of the SmartPhones out there and quite frankly, I can't read them easily.

I am concerned that it won't meet my changing business needs, (not that the razr does either) and am wondering if any phone will? So on to my questions:

1) Is there a limit to the number of contacts? Would 1000 names and addresses fit? Is there a way to make separate directories for personal and business?

2) I've read there is no way to cut and paste, but is there a way to save e-mail templates?

3) For work, we use a web based CRM, however in my PC it required the installation of version 1.4.1_02 of the Java Runtime Environment. I've read the the iphone doesn't support Java but is this something different than the Java games? If I could get into our work CRM, through Safari I could use the e-mail templates stored there.

4) Synching contacts: I use Act! as my contact manager and e-mail client. I don't expect the iPhone to work with that, but I can export the contact I want to sync into either outlook or windows address book. I don't want todos to sync and would prefer the sync to be 'one way' only ie; WCM -> iPhone only. Is this configurable?

I've been reading this board for some time now, but using the search feature has been frustrating as I can't seem to narrow it down enough to find answers to my specific questions. Thanks for reading my long post, and Merry Christmas!

*edited to 'hopefully' remove the adword crap

[JoeT]

Originally Posted by Colin

I'm currently in a V3 and am considering the iPhone because of the large, easy to read screen. I'm certainly not old, but due to a cataract, my eyesight isn't what it was. I've looked at most of the SmartPhones out there and quite frankly, I can't read them easily.

Some of the features are "zoomable" such as the Safari web browser, and they will be easy for you to read. I suggest playing with one for a few minutes to evaluate the rest.

Originally Posted by Colin

1) Is there a limit to the number of contacts? Would 1000 names and addresses fit? Is there a way to make separate directories for personal and business?

I have over a thousand contacts but have not found a way to categorize them. There's also no way to search them.

Originally Posted by Colin

2) I've read there is no way to cut and paste, but is there a way to save e-mail templates?

Not currently.

Originally Posted by Colin

3) For work, we use a web based CRM, however in my PC it required the installation of version 1.4.1_02 of the Java Runtime Environment. I've read the the iphone doesn't support Java but is this something different than the Java games? If I could get into our work CRM, through Safari I could use the e-mail templates stored there.

No, if you require Java, my understanding is that it will not work.

Originally Posted by Colin

4) Synching contacts: I use Act! as my contact manager and e-mail client. I don't expect the iPhone to work with that, but I can export the contact I want to sync into either outlook or windows address book. I don't want todos to sync and would prefer the sync to be 'one way' only ie; WCM -> iPhone only. Is this configurable?

Yes, you can specify what syncs.

[Lincoln]

What's up with all those links? Are you Chris716? Are you the same Collin that went spam happy the other night?

If not, sorry for the bombarding questions.

- John

[Colin]

No this is my first visit to this forum. I've posted the question in another forum with no replies,so I thought I'd try here. I guess when I cut my message, it brought that linking crap. Sorry I hate those things more than you can imagine!

[Colin]

Edited the original post to clean it up.

Thanks for the replies. Starting on the 1st, I'll be 'graded' on my e-mail replies to potential clients. Scoring factors will be timeliness (within one hour) and content (must provide price quote if asked).

The current workflow is as such:
-Prospect visits website to inquire and generates an inquiry.
-I immediately receive an email message telling me I have a new lead.
-I log into the CRM system and reply through the mail server there to log my reply time and use a set template that meets the content requirements.

With the iPhone I cannot get into the CRM system because it's Java based, but I will still have the email notification that I have a message, and the reply mail address. If I could figure out a way to use mail templates via some form of webmail, I suppose I could log in through Safari, select a template and reply immediately? Does this sound plausible?

[Lincoln]

Okay, sorry for the misunderstanding there. See, a member with the name Collin registered the other day, and as I said, went spam happy.

Welcome to the boards!

- John

[Napoleon_PhoneApart]

Originally Posted by Colin

I'm currently in a V3 and am considering the iPhone because of the large, easy to read screen. I'm certainly not old, but due to a cataract, my eyesight isn't what it was.

Why not get that foggy lens of your replaced? The procedure takes about a half hour and recovery time is a few days. I've had both eyes done.

Of course, I've also had two vitrectomies, a scleral buckle...

[termleech]

Originally Posted by Colin

Edited the original post to clean it up.

Thanks for the replies. Starting on the 1st, I'll be 'graded' on my e-mail replies to potential clients. Scoring factors will be timeliness (within one hour) and content (must provide price quote if asked).

The current workflow is as such:
-Prospect visits website to inquire and generates an inquiry.
-I immediately receive an email message telling me I have a new lead.
-I log into the CRM system and reply through the mail server there to log my reply time and use a set template that meets the content requirements.

With the iPhone I cannot get into the CRM system because it's Java based, but I will still have the email notification that I have a message, and the reply mail address. If I could figure out a way to use mail templates via some form of webmail, I suppose I could log in through Safari, select a template and reply immediately? Does this sound plausible?

Unforunately I don't think there is any way to do the templates for email like you want. I suppose a work around would be to email the templates to yourself, move them to a template folder on the phone and then always use those and hit reply or forward to the new email address of the client. It's kind of a cludge but would work.

As for contact categories, you can't do it on the iPhone itself, but if you set up the contacts in a certain category in outlook the categories will be transfered over to the iPhone and you can view the contacts in each of the categories. I do it all the time.

[KNK]

Originally Posted by MacManPro

What's up with all those links? Are you Chris716? Are you the same Collin that went spam happy the other night?

If not, sorry for the bombarding questions.

- John

In all honesty I thought the same thing as you.

[Colin]

Originally Posted by Napoleon_PhoneApart

Why not get that foggy lens of your replaced? The procedure takes about a half hour and recovery time is a few days. I've had both eyes done.

Of course, I've also had two vitrectomies, a scleral buckle...

Oh I will have it replaced, but since I had Lasik done 5-6 years prior, my corneas are no longer perfectly round, There are no reliable calculations out yet that can adjust for this to get the replacement lens ''just right'. Hopefully with time, we'll start to see better post-lasik cataract done, but I don't want to be patient number 2 for this in Hawaii....