Author: f1221ecrandall

Even the Feds say an Apple a day keeps the Doctor away

Posted on by f1221ecrandall

After eight years of customer loyalty, the U.S. Immigration and Custom Forces agency are going to end their contract with RIM (Blackberry’s maker) to gain a contract with iPhone. Over 17,600 employees will gain a new iPhone costing near $2.1 million. The agency said that the company “can no longer meet the mobile technology needs of the agency.” They said that they also viewed Google’s Android, but decided that the iPhone would serve best at least for this year because of Apple’s tight controls of the hardware platform and operating system.

RIM has fired back by revamping the technology they’re putting in the BB10 to hopefully meet the government’s needs. RIM was always the choice for high-secured companies and IT firms, but because of the higher security levels on the newer iPhones and Androids, RIM now has some serious competition.

To me, this article is shows again how Apple dominates the market. Even customers who have been loyal to Blackberry for years now are giving up their contracts to go to the iPhone. Even at my own work, corporate is allowing managers an “upgrade version work phone” to get the iPhone for their phone. It used to be the saying that you had your personal phone, and your blackberry for work. I feel like this is changing rapidly, and already the iPhone is capable of having multiple numbers on it at once with apps. Hopefully with the new BB10, Blackberry will be able to compete once again.

It will be interesting to me to see which phone will finally beat the iPhone, or if that day will ever come.

iphone 5 vs. BB10

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-federal-agency-drops-blackberry-for-iphone-20121022,0,7244228.story

 

Companies urging workers to avoid after-hours email

Posted on by f1221ecrandall

With technology giving us the ability to stay connected at all times, many companies are debating about whether or not employees should have to answer their emails during hours they are not in the office. Although there are the financial advantages to having work smart phones given out to all employees, it can also be a disadvantage that the employees constantly feel stressed and overworked.

Because of this, hours at the office could be used more for personal activities (i.e. shopping online, chatting on Facebook, etc.). It also has the topic of work-life balance. Of course in management operations you want the fewest number of employees with the longest hours with the littlest pay in order to make the best profit, but when is enough enough?

It has gotten to the point where many of my own friends who are in the work world will be sending out emails all Sunday instead of enjoying their day off, and I know this frustrates them. I have also had other friends who I have called late at night and were still in the office, off the clock. Is technology helping more than it’s hurting us?

“At the Advisory Board, the frustration showed up in an internal survey of its 1,750 employees. Workers said they would be happier and more likely to stick around longer if they had less after-hours email to tackle.”

If a worker is not at their best, they will not produce at their best. It is about having a happy-medium between these two ideas where the key lies.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-companies-urging-workers-to-avoid-afterhours-email-20120921,0,507363.story