For those of you that are iPhone users, I'm sure that you know that yesterday Apple released some info about the upcoming iPhone OS version 3.0.
There are many new features and you can watch the video over on the Apple site and get great reviews all over the web. My favorite is Ryan Block's at GDGT.com. The two things that I think are important for Realtors are:
1. Apple will now allow developers to access bluetooth to communicate with external devices
2. Turn by Turn directions
The first one has been what has kept Supra from being able to develop an application similar to the one on the Blackberry. I have spoken to (name withheld) at Supra and they have assured me that the app was being developed and wold be released pending Apple allowing this functionality. The iPhone 3.0 release will not be out until summer (hopefully June and not August) so I expect this app to follow shortly.
The second option is great for those of us who do not have navigation installed in our vehicles. Since the economy is not getting better quickly I'm not buying a car anytime soon. Garmin and TomTom have been developing proof of concept applications for the iPhone so I can assume they will be releasing apps this summer also. The one caveat here is, because of licensing issues these applications will have to provide their own maps. An entire map of the US stored locally could take up 750MB - 1GB of space. I have an 8GB version so this takes up as much as 12.5% of my storage.
in this economy the only thing I really want is an iPhone -but I have been waiting to reward myself for something really significant. At least now I know that I should wait until the new 3.0 is out - a definate "can't wait" - thanks for the info!
supra app?! YES! I have been waiting for something like that to buy an iphone. (A reason). I have a key and a blackberry now. It would be nice to have it in one. I watched the video last night and saw so many cool apps coming out (like taking your blood pressure!)
Christopher - I've been waiting to get a new phone. I really like the Iphone and if this it true I'll be getting one.
OK ...now you just made my life Good and Bad .. I have the Storm LOVE IT but wanted the IPhone but said no for the two reason you say they are now fixing ...HMMMM looks like I am have to figure out a way .. it get a NEW TOY soon
Would love the supra app on my I-phone, it would be almost perfect then
The think they mentioned on the news was the new 'cut and paste' functionality.
Great information, and to be honest I held on to my last WM phone longer than I should have just to keep the supra ekey, but once I got rid of it I realized it was totally worth the tradeoff. And to clarify for anyone thinking they need to wait to buy an iPhone... the 3.0 release is a software release, not a new or different phone. If you buy now, you're software will be upgraded at no cost when 3.0 is released.
Wow, that takes up a lot of space on the phone. I wish there was a way of upgrading the memory on the phone.
Thanks Christopher, I had to give up some functionality I liked on the Treo 750 including Supra. However, I have an NRA zeal about this phone. Now, if we could get some Microsoft office apps like Excel, I can use Pat Zaby's spreadsheets in PZ Calc. Any news?
I've been evaluating iPhone versus blackberry. Nice to know this is opening up. May shift me to iPhone. All my LSU "geek" friends I met via Twitter swear by the iPhone.
I'm stuck with the Palm (not wanting to carry 2 devices) and my life has been full of freezes and such. I am so happy that this is going to be available!!
Very exciting. I want an iPhone, but don't want to lose the ability to open my lockbox that my TREO has. cool
aren't we all missing the boat here? even if Supra develops the application, you'll still need a device to turn the bluetooth into infra red to open the box, right?
i know there are universal remote aps being made now that, in theory, could be modified to work but any way you slice it, you will still need to have the other device--not unlike all you blackberry users right now.
am i right about this?
Joe:
You are correct, you will still need the e-fobe(ekey) to convert the bluetooth signal into infrared since only infrared signal will open the current Supra ekeys. So this mean you will need to carry 2 devices (same as people do now that have blackberries).
Infrared technology is old and most new phones do not have infrared ports anymore so the solutionto this is to get Supra to design an ekey that accepts bluetooth signals.
I'll believe this once someone from GE securities posts it here. ;)
Greg R..... Just in case your reading this. I'm VERY willling to be a beta tester if you need one.
Joe, you are correct that you will need to carry two devices. The e-fob can fit on a key ring I believe and the added benefit of having a superior platform like the iPhone(when compared to a Treo) far outweighs the slight inconvenice of having to carry one extra very small device.
Greg R., I will sent the link to this article to the Supra rep that I got this info from and encourage him to post a reply. I don't know if he is a member of ActiveRain and now that new members must pay he may not join just to reply to this thread.
iPhone 3.0 comes out today and as I look down at my phone it is about halfway through the update. We should know very soon if they will release an app using the e-fob that they already have or whether they are developing a new iPhone specific one.
sapoWell everyone, it's been a month.
Does anyone know of any news in the iphone app to open lock boxes category?
Oh I rewarded myself, but need I need to find a way to get addicted to the apps. I am wanting to be told what is super useful, versus just for fun, as I am not there yet. Give me time.
Does anyone have an update on an Iphone app to use it as an ekey on GE Supra Lockboxes? I have called GE Supra and the only comment they had is that their engineers are working with Apple engineers to determine if their software will work. Not sure how it can work with Blackberry but not the Iphone. I know that Apple resisted allowing third parties access to the bluetooth function on the Iphone, but that appears to have been resolved. Not sure why it is so difficult to use similare technology to the Blackberry for the Iphone. Any update???
I would love to hear more about the Supra App! Any news out there? Thanks.