Small Business Tech Tips

I recently upgraded my Android based smartphone from the Motorola Cliq through TMobile to the Motorola Atrix through AT&T.

While the Cliq provided me all of the benefits of the Android operating system, it was severely lacking as a business device and Motorola’s support of the device was severely lacking. The phone had many shortcomings and I was happy to finally be done with it.

By contrast, the Atrix fixed all of the shortcomings of the Cliq.

Here are my top 5 reasons this phone is a fantastic smartphone for business users.

1) Security

First and foremost, my single most favorite feature of the Atrix is the fingerprint scanner. This one simple addition has made this phone so much more secure.

When I was using the Cliq, I found the unlocking feature so annoyingly slow that I simply disabled it.

Now I have a phone that is locked when the screen times out and can only be unlocked using my fingerprints. It does have a backup unlocking mechanism using a code or pattern but I seldom use that.

2) Swype

I thought I wouldn’t be able to live without a physical keyboard on my phone. I have had one since I owned a Blackberry 8700.

Initially it was tough to give that feature up but I was very interested in having a phone that didn’t feel heavy in my pocket and bulky in my hand. Well the Swype keyboard entry works so well that I haven’t regretted the move to a keyboard-less phone. I’m able use the on-screen keyboard via Swype as quickly as I was able to type with a physical keyboard.

3) Speed

Fast! This phone is peppy. Its dual core, 1 Ghz processor blazes. When I need information it’s there. No waiting. I multi-task with this phone constantly and it has kept up with me from day one.

4) Speech recognition

When I’m driving, I use the speech recognition and text to speech synthesizer. The phone reads me incoming texts and I dictate my responses back. In addition, I can tell it who to call and it finds the right person about 90% of the time.

5) Maps & GPS

In my role, I find myself on the road often. The integration between my calendar, Google Maps and the GPS satellites is fantastic! With Google Maps tied into live traffic speeds, I’m able to estimate my arrival times pretty accurately and can call ahead if I’m running behind.

All in all, the Atrix is one fine phone and terrific for business use.

-Jim De Vico

General Manager, Los Angeles
Everon Technology Services

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Tags: Apple, atrix, iPhone, motorola, smartphone

This entry was posted on Monday, May 2nd, 2011 at 8:00 am and is filed under Small Business Mobile Technology Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.