the more expensive Palm Tungsten C.
ASSESSING ALTERNATIVE PDAs FOR USE BY ALL SALES
REPRESENTATIVES OF CONTEMPORARY REALTY
Under instructions and authorization from Ryan Ricks, IT department manager, a study was conducted to identify, assess, and evaluate alternative PDAs for use by all sales representatives of Contemporary Realty. The primary objective of the study is to develop a recommendation for the PDA brand and model for acquisition by the firm to equip all sales representatives with identical PDAs.
Wireless PDAs offer real estate salespeople and brokers a number of useful functions from lead generation to pipeline management (Grant, 2002). New generation PDAs are tools that make it easier for sales representatives and others in the real estate sector to remain tethered to vital customer, lender, and other information databases without being tied to their office. These new technologies also provide for wireless e-mail, Internet access, and basic recordkeeping that eliminates the need for cumbersome pen and paper journals, logs, and other associated records (Grant, 2002). Consequently, they are valuable sales tools that can enhance a realtor's productivity and profitability.
The project process evolved from a determination of the PDA requirements of Contemporary Realty sales representatives, consultation with supervisory personnel, and interviews with sales representatives to determine their perceived needs for and uses of PDAs and their assessment of the key features needed in such a tool. Several evaluative criteria emerged from this process, to wit: multiplicity of functions, size and weight, memory, screen size and readability, battery requirements, ease of navigation, presence of a hands-free headset, microphone integration, user interface, modem speed, and the ability to integrate with other technologies.
After a preliminary review of several alternative PDAs, Internet Web sites were examined...