Productivity tools
Scientific proof you can’t handle more SaaS/Mobile applications
Love new tools but don’t have the time?
If you are like me, every time a friend suggests a new cool online tool (SaaS software, web application, or mobile app), you quickly write it down to research later. But, inevitably, after taking a quick peek at the website, that interest quickly fades.
I used to kick myself for not adopting every new tool I heard about. I constantly asked myself, “Bob found this tool useful and he appears more productive that I am, why can’t I adopt it?”
There is a scientific reason
The simple scientific fact is that, like social relationships, there are only so many SaaS applications you can effectively manage on a regular basis. In 1992, British anthropologist Robin Dunbar, studied social networks and found that a human can maintain ~150 stable relationships.
Further studies have shown that Dunbar’s Number remains consistent, even with the advent of social networks. As another data point, Pinch Media, which tracks iPhone app usage, has shown that 30-days after an app is purchased, less than 5 percent of buyers continue to use it.
Want the power of these applications without the effort?
Through our team’s 100,000+ hours supporting Prialto members, we have observed the practices of senior executives and sales teams. We estimate that a busy executive can manage 6 to 8 applications on a consistent basis. However, there is a second tier of apps that executives need functionality from but can’t spare the time to use (i.e. expense management, CRM, social media monitoring..)
If you are like us and enjoy learning about new applications but fear adding another one to your processes, please take a minute to share:
- The top apps you use regularly
- Apps you would like to get value out of without using/learning
Productivity Applications 1-Minute Survey
About Prialto
Helping executives manage web-based applications is at the core of Prialto’s mission to deliver a turnkey productivity solution. Prialto has built a database of applications and best practices for executive productivity. If you would like to learn how you and your team can leverage global assistants to increase productivity, contact us at www.prialto.com or 866.910.8440
Finally a way to connect your laptop to the web via your BlackBerry
For two years I had a Verizon PC card to give me web access for my HP laptop. The card was free, but the service cost me about $60 per month—a big monthly cost. The connection was fast and the ability to connect from client locations was an important benefit. But the $60 per month ($720 per year) really irked me, so I ended up dropping the service.
Now I finally found a way to get the mobile web connection I want on my laptop without the high monthly fee. I recently download the Tether app for BlackBerry. For a one-time fee of $49.99 I can connect my BlackBerry to my HP laptop via a USB cable and get the web and email from almost anywhere. There is no additional fee beyond the BlackBerry data plan I already have from Verizon.
Not only do I save a bundle, but also I score a victory for competition with the big carriers.
What: Tether app for BlackBerry
Where: http://tether.com/
Price: Free trial available, full version is $49.95 one-time fee
Safer driving with Vlingo for BlackBerry
Quick: Where do you make most of your business phone calls? If you are like me you will answer, “in my car.” For me the car offers the rare opportunity to call my contacts without distractions from my other tasks.
So I have been eager to test the Vlingo app for BlackBerry, which lets you get more done while driving—and helps keep you safe. Vlingo, also available for Android and iPhone, will read aloud your incoming emails for you—no need to sneak a peek to see your messages.
Speak your emails
You can also reply to emails by speaking. Vlingo’s speech-to-text engine will add your words to the email. Accuracy is pretty good, although it does miss a few words. Vlingo says that the app will learn from your voice as you go, without any active voice coaching on your part.
Voice dialing for safer driving
I also appreciate the advanced voice dialing features, which let you call anyone in your contact list by speaking. (I must admit to driving while looking up contacts, a very dangerous action.)
Vlingo also lets you open applications by voice. For example, I enjoy listening to Slacker Radio while driving. With Vlingo I can say, “Vlingo open Slacker” and the app will open for me.
All in all, I really like this app and find myself using it more and more as I find new features.
What: Vlingo app for BlackBerry
Where: http://vlingo.com/products/blackberry/
Price: Free version available, I tested Vlingo Plus for $19.95
Prialto Voice – A Voice over IP Solution
You’ve probably heard buzzwords such as VoIP, IP PBX, and IP telephony, but what is it? How can you benefit from it? Doing all the necessary research to understand it all can be daunting. And after that, performing a cost-benefit analysis of going from a “Plain Old Telephone Service,” or POTS system, to a Voice over IP telephony system can be complicated. The inputs are so many, and some of them are not readily measurable in dollars. At Prialto, we’re using VoIP exclusively, and actually, our business wouldn’t be viable without VoIP – proof positive of its cost efficiency.
Now, how can VoIP save your organization money? Read on to find out more.
Reduce Your Phone Bill
Saving on phone bills is the most obvious benefit of using a VoIP phone system. Typically, the biggest savings can be realized if your organization has many branches or if you have people working from home or on the road. For companies who have employees traveling abroad, the cost savings can be substantial. Prialto can quickly help you analyze how VoIP could benefit your organization by simply looking at your monthly phone bill.
Less Infrastructure to Maintain, Simpler to Administer, and More Scalable
Because VoIP systems run on normal servers, it is typically less expensive to deploy VoIP than POTS equipment, and that’s even true when it comes to a small office of 1-5 people. And if additional offices need to be connected to the same “corporate” phone system, that can be done quickly and easily too, allowing companies to grow without incurring large expenses for infrastructure.
Another benefit is that because there are less specialized systems to maintain, there are fewer things that can go wrong and it reduces the need for system administrators at each site. Additionally, with fewer machines to maintain, the fewer maintenance contracts are needed.
Because VoIP phones run on the same type of network as regular computers, there’s no need for additional wiring for phones. Again, this means less infrastructure components to maintain and troubleshoot. Lastly, most things related to extensions or phones can be administered by the user, which reduces the need for IT staff.
Cut Costs Using Alternative Phones
A VoIP system allows users to make calls from their computers. These so-called “softphones” are cheaper and work just as well as a regular desk phone. However, if a person or organization prefers to use a standard desk phone, a nice VoIP phone is fairly inexpensive, starting around $100. The main difference from a user’s perspective between a VoIP phone and a POTS phone is that VoIP phones offer many more options and more flexibility. › Continue reading
Zimbra Desktop: Achieve greater flexibility with your email
Local access to your Prialto/Zimbra email and calendar is moving closer to production release.
Zimbra Desktop is a desktop email client alternative to Outlook. One of the biggest benefits of Zimbra Desktop is that it runs on more than just Windows. Versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux are available, and the application looks exactly the same on all systems. Moreover, if you have been using the Prialto Collaboration Suite (Prialto CS) webmail, you will instantly recognize the layout and design in the Zimbra Desktop as it’s nearly identical, giving you the best of both worlds!
Zimbra Desktop is now out of Beta and will soon be released as General Availability. The latest version, 1.0 RC1, is a feature-complete product and is now available for download at Zimbra.com.
Zimbra Desktop benefits at a glance:
* Offline email access
* Write emails when offline and send as soon as you have an Internet connection
* Same great search capabilities as with the webmail version
* Gather external email accounts, such as Gmail, in the same place, and access them offline too
* Access your documents and briefcase while offline
Prialto’s corporate email solution, Prialto CS, is based on the Zimbra platform, which provides our members with the ability to manage their email and calendar from any computer or mobile device with its online capability. And now with the offline version, users will have the ability to access their email, calendar, contacts, and documents on their computer even when not connected to the Internet (e.g. during a flight) – creating even greater flexibility for our members.