Doing Business While You Play | How-to Guides for running your business from Business.com

For self-employed professionals and small business owners, staying connected to the office is critical, even during the summer when the beach beckons, the mountains call or you just want an afternoon in the backyard. Whether on the road for meetings or on the shore for some hard-earned R&R, staying connected is easier than ever with today's advanced wireless technology.

Today's demanding 24/7 work environment requires everyone — especially small business owners — to be accessible even during the summer when everyone is trying to spend time away from the office. Fortunately, it doesn't take fancy laptops, hand-held computers or other costly technology to stay plugged in — just your wireless phone. Key tasks you can accomplish include:

1) Send and receive email
2) Access the Internet
3) Download files

Here are my tips for Work.com users on staying productive with just a cell phone:

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Download that big file -- from the beach!

Municipal wireless networks that can handle large data loads are being built worldwide, but are not yet available everywhere, and Wi-Fi hotspots can be tough to find. So what to do in the meantime when you need to download that large file and you're away from the office?

I recommend: Mobile broadband is your best bet. A mobile broadband connection card lets you access the Internet anywhere on your carrier's mobile broadband network. The Sprint-Nextel mobile broadband site for small business has information on mobile broadband cards and power vision phones; you can also test connection speed and find coverage areas for high-speed service.

Automatically forward office calls to your cell

Vacations aren't fun if work beckons at inconvenient times. Fortunately, phone service providers are sensitive to the needs of entrepreneurs and anyone else who must stay connected to their business while enjoying time away during the summer.

I recommend: Services are available that forward office calls and voicemail to your mobile phone, essentially integrating your mobile and office phone systems and helping you stay in touch. Wikipedia has a helpful and detailed explanation of how various call forwarding features work.

Take a rugged phone on your vacation

Let's face it. Most cell phones just can't take a licking and keep on ticking. Whether hiking, rafting, mountain climbing or biking, your phone most likely can't handle Mother Nature like you can.

I recommend: Consider a ruggedized phone -- first designed for the military, but now widely available -- which can handle extreme conditions, including dust, shock, extreme temperatures and moisture. If you are braving the outdoors and want a phone that can brave the elements with you, this is definitely the way to go. Rugged phone solutions are also available at Business.com.

Coordinate the troops even while you're away

Making multiple calls throughout the day trying to coordinate your team can be cumbersome.

I recommend: Consider a walkie-talkie phone with a carrier that has a large push-to-talk network. This can make it easier to stay in touch on the go, especially for projects that require real-time attention and collaboration. Sprint is known for its Nextel business class walkie talkie technology.

Keep up with breaking business news

It's crucial to know what's happening in your industry in real-time, even when you're away.

I recommend: Many new smart phones offer on-demand web content access with a push of a button. This lets you receive customized industry news, headlines and other information.

Access key contacts on the go

If you need to reach a company colleague or a member of the family, many smart phones now allow you to access Microsoft Outlook or other email programs that store all of your contacts.

I recommend: Whether you want to check in on the new business meeting or the dogs, it's important to have your contacts at your fingertips. This Work.com Guide to Smartphones can help you find what you need.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

Getting lost on the road is a thing of the past since GPS-enabled smart phones give you step-by-step driving directions, trip planning and much more on the open road.
Create and store a file with all of your credit card information and keep it in your email box. Should your credit card get stolen, you can wirelessly access this information and freeze your card to minimize any losses and speed up card replacement.
Have an emergency plan, in case you get lost or something unexpected happens. Consider adding the feature to your phone plan that offers E911 services, which quickly and easily connect you to help and can provide information on your location via GPS.
Hit the road with a camera phone. There are countless uses for an integrated camera or videophone beyond capturing a snapshot with Mickey or filming fireworks.

The official source of Doing Business While You Play is
the Work and Life Consultants page at Business.com

More Featured Listings

iPhone for Business
With more great features, learn why iPhone just got better for business.
www.apple.com/iphone/business

New Samsung™ Cell Phones
Samsung Moment and Samsung Behold II Learn About them ™ Today!
SamsungMobileUSA.com/Moment

Cell Phones
BearCom is a nationwide wireless equipment dealer and integrator. Visit our Website for the latest special offers and promotions.
Quick Quote | Special Offers | Branch Locations
www.BearCom.com

Business Phone Plans - Sprint Official Site
Find Business Phone Plans for You and Your Business. Sprint Brings You All The Latest Phones. Get On The Now Network!
Small Business | Medium to Large | Public Sector | Service Discounts
Sprint.com/Business