So, does this mean that things are completely organized and you never face problems? No way! You still experience dropped calls, bad Wi-Fi signals, files that get corrupted, gadgets that die on you because of lack of power and the best part is that all these things happen when you need them the most.

Here are a few extremely handy tools that can help you keep connected at all times and alleviate the need to carry tons of cables, chargers etc.

Chargers

We now know that our laptops are the best chargers. The only problem is that most laptops need be charged with 110-volt AC and don’t come with many USB ports for charging other gadgets.

Imagine what a charger that can take power from different sources and charge all those gadgets can do.

• VersaCharger Pro from BoxWave Corp.

This charger is great in that it can connect not to one but three power sources; an AC plug for 110 and an AC plug for 220 volts (both European and US), a car cigarette-lighter connector and it has a short cable that makes the car connector change into something like a standard airplane power outlet.

The cost with an airplane charger is $35.20 and extra miniSync cables cost around $14.95, with shipping extra.

The only disadvantage is that it works only for handheld devices, and you will need something else for laptops.

• iGo everywhere85 from Mobility Electronics

This power adapter works for notebooks as well as handhelds. Unfortunately, you will not find connectors for Apple MacBooks.

This is a small and lightweight three-way device for AC/plane/car. You get a laptop connector cable that is retractable and a set of interchangeable connector tips.

They have 70 watts continuous/85 watts peak output which costs $129.99 and 90 watts continuous/130 watts peak costs $149.99. If you wish to charge your laptop and handheld at the same time; you will have to buy a separate connector tip.

Wireless Connection

It happens to all of us. We check for an available wireless connection only to discover that the few that are available are not free. Then we tend to look for a temporary solution.

This is where a wireless connection helps.

• Wi-Fire from hField Technologies Inc.

This is a tiny device that can be carried in your laptop bag. The long-range Wi-Fi adaptor is a combination of a sensitive receiver, a range-boosting directional antenna and proprietary software to pull in the wireless LAN signals, three times better and faster than other standard Wi-Fi adapters. It can be connected using a USB port to Windows PC and works with XP and Vista, and even a Mac Os X including Leopard. It costs $79 when you buy from their website.

• iPassConnect from iPass Inc.

You can have unlimited access to more than 24,000 Wi-Fi hot spots and Ethernet-equipped hotels and other big places in the U.S.; Starbucks, McDonald’s, Sheraton, Hyatt, Radisson, Borders, airline clubs and airports. It costs $29.95/month and for people travelling abroad, for $44.95, access to more than 90,000 WiFi hotspots, Ethernet locations, local dial-up numbers in 160 countries is possible. They have several other offers that can be checked out at their website.

Cell Phone Signal

• zBoost Personal

Problem with cell phone signals? This is a portable signal booster costing $169 and is a very small device. It has an external antenna with suction cups that can be fixed to a window. All you have to do is plug it into an AC outlet, and it provides a good reception wherever you need.

Data Backup

Losing important data when traveling on a business trip, either due to a disk crash or something else, can be the worst thing that can happen.

Let’s see a few Web-based backup services that can help us with this:

• MozyHome from EMC Corp.

This service is ranked highly for the excellent features and interface. Users can create personal accounts that get them free backup space of 2GB, which is a good amount of space for when you are traveling.
These are some of the tools that can prove to be most important for people on the move. They give you the comfort of being connected, charged, boosted and protected at all times.

Recent sales numbers of the iPhone and the BlackBerry have surprised people in the know. The reason for the surprise is that BlackBerry has always been considered to be synonymous with a business phone, but now the iPhone sold more.

Earlier, Steve Jobs announced that the iPhone would support Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, which will enable users to synchronize their calendar and contacts along with receiving push mail on their iPhones. This announcement had many critics remarking that Apple is attempting to just grab a small slice of one of the most lucrative markets – the enterprise phone segment and nothing more will come out of it. Of course, diehard Apple fans are never deterred by these comments and have always counted on the iPhone to make a difference in this market, where enterprise phone segment is the arena of players such as the BlackBerry and the Nokia E-series.

The sales reports of smartphones reveal that Nokia still ruled, followed by Apple and then BlackBerry. This is a great achievement for Apple, considering that the iPhone does not have as many models as the other two. Another fact is that the competition has released high-profile devices recently too, such as Nokia’s E71 and RIM’s Bold. However, a device that has not been considered to be a suitable choice for enterprise use until now has won hands down.

What are the reasons for iPhone’s success in the Smartphone segment? Experts are of the belief that the iPhone does not need a huge learning curve as it comes with an intuitive interface. It has fewer buttons and users do not need to access any menus. If someone wants to access a software, it can be done with simple scrolling and tapping. The screen also responds extremely quickly to the touch. MS Office and PDF file attachments can be opened faster by the email client than any PC can. These are things users look for – ease of operation and convenience of use.

Even the most simple things like the display on the iPhone is the largest available. People can comfortably watch videos on it or read long reports with ease. There are plenty of very useful and attractive multimedia features too, one of which includes the option of downloading several hundreds of applications to the device.

These are just some of the factors that seem to be attracting people to the iPhone. People now understand that there is no longer the need to own two devices; one for their personal use and one for business use. Now they can get everything they need in a single phone and they cannot be any happier.

The main attraction that iPhone is bringing to smartphones and enterprise devices is that phones used by businessmen and professionals now look not only at providing functionality but entertainment as well. Previously, the general thinking was that an enterprise phone has to be all about being functional, catering to the needs of synchronizing contacts and calendars, push mail, MS Office file viewers etc., which are usually the functions needed in any business phone owned by a professional. Many of the enterprise devices did not come with cameras as it was earlier felt that security of the business data would be compromised with the addition of such features.

Now people and manufacturers are beginning to think differently and because of this, BlackBerry Bold has a better interface and display than before. Samsung has come out with Omnia and the eight megapixel mobile phone Innov8 that come with both multimedia features and enterprise features.

There no longer exists the line that divided entertainment from enterprise and the major credit for this goes to the success of the iPhone. No longer do people need to weigh their pockets down, with two phones. Now traveling with two phones is looked at as inconvenient and meaningless. We are in an era of fast and easy devices and professionals can entertain themselves on the same phone they use for conducting their business, without any fear of compromising on security. Apple is going all out to make sure that it is seen not only as a competitor in the enterprise segment but more as a leader.

iPhone, when it went on sale, created a minor sensation, with people waiting in long lines to own it and the media going gaga over this good looking piece of art.

When something as interesting makes it appearance, competition is not far away. This is what is irking Apple’s chief executive, Steve jobs. He is said to be encountering serious resistance in Waterloo.

Waterloo is home to the notorious opponents and the creators of the BlackBerry, Research In Motion (RIM.)

RIM as it is popularly known is the leader of smart phones in North America. Smart phones are more like computers than phones and there are many fans who love them for the easy access to the web, digital music and video.

The Blackberry Curve and Pearl, smartphones that are aimed at the consumer market did very well but RIM faces a challenge, as the entry of the iPhone brought the sales down in the first six months.

Apple’s noisy appearance in the smartphone market has increased the visibility of the smartphones and even enhanced the visibility of its rivals too. In the last few months, the sales of smartphones all over the world increased by 60%.

Apple announced in March, that they would most likely be licensing the corporate email technology from Microsoft, which makes it possible for iPhones to directly connect to business computers. In Apple’s quarterly conference, it was revealed that one-third of the Fortune 500 companies showed interest in giving their employees iPhones.

Apple, as one of the measures taken to increase its visibility, has announced that it will introduce a new 3G version of the iPhone in June, which is expected to work on faster wireless networks and this is expected to further attract a whole new segment of consumers to the iPhone all around the world.

All this goes to show the threat that Apple poses to RIM. Consumers, who may have wanted to buy the BlackBerry, will go in for the iPhone now, because of these extra features. This certainly may not bring RIM down as it is an established brand, but will definitely slow them down.

The battle of the Waterloo is heating up and as a retort to Apple, RIM headquarters says that they are expected to release a new 3G phone around May and deliver it to the wireless carriers all through the year. RIM employees and developers who are involved with creating programs for the new phone, say that it is going to have a large screen, faster processors and better browsing and almost feels like browsing the net on the computer. It will also have a keyboard unlike the Apple iPhone that has a glass touch screen. The reason that RIM did not include the touch screen is because they feel that it is difficult to type on a glass piece. Having said that, they do not discount the possibility of coming up with a touch screen phone in the future.

In fact, developers who work for RIM revealed that a touch screen phone is already in the making and insiders at RIM refer to it as AK (Apple killer.)

Pictures that have been leaked suggest that the new phone is elegant and almost on the lines of the Apple iPhone. It is left for people to wait and see if indeed RIM manages to get their hold on the smart phone market. Apple only hopes that their loaded cart is not tilted by a competitor.

Handhelds are small, portable computers that can literally fit in the palm of your hand. They used to contain only simple software programs, but now have been combined with mobile phone technology to become entire media systems. They can access the internet, download music, allow you to check your email and make a few phone calls all away from the home or office.

Handhelds have become much more complex and the features available are enough to possibly run an office, but the tiny screen and keyboard would make it complicated to send more than a single line via email or check your flight information.

Handhelds and the Internet
The most impressive feature of a handheld in the modern workplace is the access to the internet. Files can be downloaded or sent. Videos can be watched in the palm of your hand. Most importantly, email can be taken with you while you walk or travel.

Email has all but replaced the phone and fax for simple, routine tasks. It is becoming even more common for emergency and pressing issues. It is rare to fax anything that is stored on the computer as sending it as an attachment takes seconds and makes data easier to manipulate.

Being able to get email anytime- anywhere- is terrific. It allows business owners to move with the speed of technology and keep up to date on company operations regardless of time or location. With clients and associates all over the world, this feature is more important than ever before.