My laptop is of course the centre of the equation and syncs everything with everything else. It takes contacts and numbers saved to my phone, to my PC, this is used as a back up and I can also then export this as a CSV file to a spreadsheet for relating customers to sales etc. I also export it and use it in the desktop texting program cabbagetexter.com.
If I make appointments or book jobs, it's done through another simple program, Rainlendar.net, which uses a desktop widget calendar and I can see everything, all my appointments and things from the desktop. I keep track of everything through this.
I can then sync my phone to Rainlendar and have all my appointments viewable from the phone while on the go.
I have recently started using Google Calendar so I can share my appointments. I do this with somebody who does a few jobs for me here and there. They have an iPhone and they have that synchronised with their Google Calendar, which shows the events I have on my shared calendar. Rainlendar is compatible with Google Calendar so all I have to do is double click the date on the desktop, put in the info and the next time the other guy checks his calendar on his iPhone, it's there! Also, if they are busy a certain they, all they have to do is mark this on their iPhone and a minute or two later it will show up on my desktop as this date having an appointment so I know I've restricted availability that day. Very handy!
However, I've run into some problems with this. I sync my phone (SE G900) through MyPhoneExplorer which has served me well for the last few years. Sometimes I have no other internet connection then that I get through using my phone as a modem when I'm out and about. If I need to sync my phone to my calendar, it's not possible as the phone can't be used as a modem, and synched at the same time.
Another problem is that I need contact space for more than 1,000 entries. Many phones are restricted to 1,000 contacts.
Another problem is that my G900 is a bit bandy at the moment so I will need to replace it soon enough.
Aswell as all the above. I also use my phone while driving with bluetooth handsfree kits. The quality is variable, sometimes those on the end of the line have a hard time hearing me. I've 3 headunits all with bluetooth in the vans. To replace them all would be quite expensive.
I'm just looking for advice on what system the rest of you use at all and have you got any suggestions for a phone that can do all the above too? Perhaps in a better way?
I'd also like the phone to have a map which can calculate route distance and time. The G900 has this but it takes far too long to use, it would probably take about 10 minutes to get the route distance and time of any given journey.
I'd like the phone to be compatible and the contact list to be exportable as a CSV file to sync with my Spreadsheets and the cabbagetexter program.
Here's a little diagram to show my current set up, probably easier than following all the above
It's annoying because I really like their interface and don't fancy having to get used to something new when this would work perfect if it could just handle the above. Was thinking to perhaps just get the iphone but I'm worried about the CSV contact exporting situation with that.