Author: BrothaTech

OS 4.3 Will Bring Mobile Hotspot To AT&T iPhone 4

by BrothaTech

It won’t be long before AT&T iPhone users are somewhat right back on the same level with Verizon Wireless iPhone users with the upcoming OS upgrade to the latest iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. Within the upgrade to OS 4.3, it has been confirmed by AT&T brass that its iPhone 4 will also get the mobile hotspot feature that will enable up to 5 devices to utilize the iPhone’s wireless signal to get online, check email, etc.

AT&T spokesperson Seth Bloom stated “To utilize this feature, customers will need to subscribe to the DataPro 4GB/$45 tethering data plan.”

I currently use the VZW iPhone and the mobile hotspot feature definitely comes in handy when I need to access my laptop to send an invoice or any other business document that’s not in the cloud. Another added bonus is it cuts down on amount of gadgets if you use BOTH an iPhone AND a seperate MiFi device. But be warned, your battery life will suffer, so make sure you are plugged in if you are using the hotspot feature for an extended amount of time. If the AT&T version is similar in functionality, it will be a very well-received feature for AT&T customers as well.

Whether you praise AT&T for its fast 3G, or praise VZW for its reliable 3G, one thing you can now say about both in regards to their iPhone versions is that both can now (legitimately) share the internet connection; something that I my opinion will be a standard feature on all smartphones within the next year.

[via: intomobile]

PaperLinks for Business: Digital Brand Interaction via QR Code

by BrothaTech

We have talked about QR Codes here on Small Biz before. The consensus was that the technology hasn’t gained complete support in the U.S…yet.

That isn’t stopping compaines like Paperlinks from being innovators in the QR Code industry. Last October, the company launched capabilities that enable users to create QR codes on just about anything and offered mini mobile sites to host the information behind the QR Code. Now Paperlinks is reaching out to its potential business clientele looking to give their customers a more interactive and digital brand experience.

Businesses can create their own Paperlinks in minutes by signing up and creating a profile on the Paperlinks website. The “Paperlinks” serve as mobile landing pages for users who scan the QR code to get more information about the product or service. Businesses can customize the Paperlinks by choosing from a number of easy-to-deploy interactive modules. Each module can be updated at any time, with changes reflected in real-time. The drag-and-drop interface makes setting up a Paperlink a snap.

Modules include: Company information; photos, videos, and other media; to promotional offers, downloads, and Social networking feeds. Businesses who use Paperlinks also have access to an account dashboard provides mobile analytics on who, where and when your Paperlink has been scanned. If those features are not enough, Paperlinks has its own free QR Code reader app for most mobile platforms that users can quickly download and get started scanning your businesses Paperlinks.

Business pricing starts at $24.99 and includes a host of features that will get your business slapping QR Codes on just about anything you can get your hands on.

AT&T Premier WP7 Phone and Car-kit for One Cent

by BrothaTech

Great Deal on Windows Phone 7 device with Extras

It can’t get any cheaper more monetarily advantageous for you and your business than a shiny new Windows Phone 7 mobile device and a car kit for one penny.

…Yeah, you heard me correctly

For a limited time, AT&T Premier is offering business customers (large and small alike) or individuals a sweet deal on an LG Quantum, running the new WP7 OS AND and a free car kit for the low-low price of one penny, provided you meet eligibility requirements (see legal mumbo-jumbo here).

The LG Quantum is loaded with features that will ensure your ears stay low to the ground all while not taking up every waking moment of your life. Features include:

– View video, applications, and the Web on a vivid 3.5” wVGA touch screen

– Fire off text messages and email with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard

– Multitask quickly via a 1 GHz processor and 16 GB user memory

If you’re an on-the-go business owner, you will appreciate the fact that the offer also includes a free car-kit that will enable you to keep your hands on “10 and 2” while ensuring your clients that everything is running as smooth as a baby’s bottom.

To get in on this deal, all you need to do is meet the eligibility requirements and sign up for a 1 to 2yr contract (voice & data) with AT&T Premier and you will be running your business hands-free while other so called “fast movers” are tied to their desktops/laptops.

For more information and to sign up, check out the AT&T Premier for your Business website.

Girl Scouts Can Now Swipe Credit Cards with GoPayment

by BrothaTech

If it’s good enough for the Girl Scouts’, smartphone credit card processing is good enough for your business too.

The Girl Scouts’ of NorthEast Ohio have been equipped with Intuit’s GoPayment mobile payment app and credit card reader for iPhone and Android devices that will allow them to take credit card payments for those addicting little cookies. The promotion is in celebration of the Girl Scouts 99th anniversary in March, and Intuit gladly handed the equipment over to the Girls in order to increase awareness of the GoPayment service. (who hasn’t heard of the Girl Scouts)

From the Press Release:

“We’re glad to put the latest mobile technology in the hands of America’s future business leaders to help them increase cookie sales,” said Chris Hylen, vice president and general manager of Intuit’s Payment Solutions division. “For this generation of girls in particular, running a business and being able to take payments anywhere with mobile apps like GoPayment will become second nature. We’re eager to see how sales will increase now that they take credit cards with GoPayment.

For a limited time, Intuit is extending this same offer to all Girl Scout councils across the country so they can maximize their cookie sales. Councils and troop leaders can get more information by calling Intuit’s GoPayment Girl Scout hotline at: 800-871-3334.”

You can run, but you can’t hide…your wallet as The Girl Scouts can now overcome your lame ol’ “I don’t carry cash” excuse when they roll up on you outside of your local grocery store slanging their product graciously ask your support of their program.

[via: 9to5Mac]

Square Drops Transaction Fees, Hopes To Boost Volume

by BrothaTech

From my email inbox:

Square drops transaction prices

I’m assuming that Square was paying attention to Intuit and its new smartphone credit card processing service GoPayment, which is one of the reasons why Square has decided to drop their fees for its own no merchant accounted needed service down to just a flat 2.75% per total transaction fee (purely speculation). Now you will still have to pay 3.75% if you manually type in the credit card number, but for both transaction types, the “+15 cents” Square initially tacked on to every charge has been dropped.

Most of the buzz around this announcement by Square is that they will more than likely take a revenue hit by dropping the 15 cents charge, hopes to gain volume in order to further cement itself as the front runner in the relatively new mobile transaction processing arena as other big players (like Intuit, Visa, Bank of America, etc) start to make a move and offer similar services that rival what Square has been doing for a little over a year.

In my opinion, if a move like this from Square can get other players’ attention like Intuit, and thus creating even more competition (which is always good for the consumer), paying per transaction fees as a small business with low volume credit card transaction (and the cool factor for swiping a client’s credit card with my smartphone) still beats dealing with those expensive POS (Point of Sale) machines…that ALWAYS seem to be out of receipt paper.

…But that’s just me

Intuit GoPayment is the New Smartphone Credit Card Processor in Town

by BrothaTech

GoPayment ReaderRecently announced, Intuit (the company behind QuickBooks) has released a smartphone credit card precessing service for small businesses called GoPayment that allows you to accept and swipe credit cards with your smartphone. The GoPayment service consists of the GoPayment app and a free card reader for low-volume businesses that attaches to your phone via the headphone jack.

What makes GoPayment so attractive for small businesses is instead of monthly fees, you are charged a transaction fee per swipe. The GoPayment transaction fees are very competitive at 2.7% of the total transaction + 15 cents for swiped transactions and 3.7% + 15 cents for manual (keyed in) transactions.

Square ReaderThe GoPayment service is almost identical to the already established Square service where you also get a free reader and the basic per transaction fees mirror each other. Where GoPayment changes the game is if you do manage to do some heavy transaction volumes. With GoPayment, you can opt for a $12.95 monthly fee drop down to 1.5% + 30 cents for swiped transactions and 2.7% + 30 cents for manual transactions. Additionally, up to 50 users can use one account if you have multiple people accepting credit cards on your company’s behalf. GoPayment still isn’t any sort of Square killer, because you do need a merchant account to use Intuit whereas Square is merchant-account free.

Regardless of which one you choose, services like this are a Godsend for small businesses who don’t do enough transactions to justify the regular credit card processing fees; but needs to adapt to their clients “I don’t have any cash/checks on me” mentality that comes with the popularity of using plastic for all things financial these days.

GoPayment is available for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry (as well as some tablets) and the app and card reader are free when you sign up.

via: SlashGear

Customer Support On the Go with Zendesk for iPad

by BrothaTech

Customer Support requests can come in at ANY time. As a small business owner, your clients may or may not recognize your “regular business hours of blank to blank.” So the ability to at the very least respond to requests is essential, even if a solution won’t be provided until you get back to your office.

Zendesk helps mobilize your customer support portal with its suite of mobile apps for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry. With more screen real estate to play with, the iPad app now joins that group with added functionality, and to give your eyes a rest. Features include:

View Current Ticket Activity: Get real-time updates and receive notification on tickets assigned to a team member through the ticket activity stream – An exclusive iPad feature.

Complete Ticket Work-flow: Act on tickets immediately, or bookmark a ticket to respond later. With the iPad app, users can create macros to send pre-defined responses to frequently asked questions.

…Not mention the coolness of using your iPad to handle customer support requests if you decide to do a little work while on vacay. Zendesk plans start at 10 bucks a month and the mobile apps (including the iPad) are free. As quick and easy it is to start handling tickets like a pro with Zendesk, it is now equally as fast to get started answering customer requests, no matter where you are, with Zendesk for iPad.

…Your eyes will thank you too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enexL56_NvM&feature=player_embedded

Citrix Enteriprise Client Available on WebOS Tablet at Launch

by BrothaTech

Just to further point out that HP Palm is ready to put some “umph” into launching its first WebOS tablet since HP bought Palm last year, it was recently announced that the popular Citrix Receiver will be available on the HP TouchPad when it is released to the public.

From the Citrix Blog:

Citrix Receiver is a lightweight software client that will turn any webOS device into a powerful business tool by providing secure Enterprise access business desktops and any Windows, Web or SaaS application. The immediate benefit for webOS consumers is that Citrix will make webOS devices enterprise-ready by securely delivering access to the existing ecosystem of Windows based apps: Citrix Receiver will instantly enable new webOS devices for the enterprise!

That means with little hassle, companies can safely integrate webOS devices with the all of the IT polices and standards that will give end-users access business desktops, apps and docs that Citrix claims will “make you productive from anywhere on any device.”

Currently, the Citrix Reciever is a free app available on just about any mobile device/platorm (now including WebOS Tablets) and has reached over two million downloads. Their is also a free demo that you can use to see if there is room in your operation for virtual computing.

BlackBerry PlayBook Will Support Android Apps?

by BrothaTech

Word on the street is that RIM plans to give PlayBook users access to the rapidly-growing Android app library, but the apps reportedly will be developed internally and run on the BlackBerry OS.

Now this news if just rumor for now, but in my opinion, it would be a strange, weird, but smart move for RIM. If you ask me, apps are what make today’s mobile OS shine. If a platform doesn’t have the support of the developer community, it will have a hard time getting enough steam to make an impact. And let’s face it, BlackBerry app development is hanging in at Number 3 behind Apple (iOS) and Google (Android). If HP Palm can revive WebOS in the next couple of months, BlackBerry will fall even further behind.

With a great deal of effort behind the BlackBerry PlayBook, it would behoove RIM to get as many apps on it as possible, or at least offer accessibility to a larger library of apps found on Android devices.

But what do you think? Should RIM focus solely on improving their own developer relations, or should it jump on the juggernaut that is the Android app library?

via: Bloomberg

My HP Palm Tablet Has a First Name…

by BrothaTech

…It’s T.o.u.c.h.Pad

(lame, but you got it).

HP plans to announce several WebOS-powered devices at a special event later today. Word on the street is that two smartphones and its long-awaited tablet will be announced.

PreCentral sent some folks over to cover the event, and while standing too close the “huddle” (I still have football on the brain), they overheard some rehearsals wherein the HP TouchPad name was mentioned (previously code-named Topaz). They were also able to get the scoop on some dimensions (1.5 pounds and 13mm thick), which mirrors the Apple iPad, but were “detained” before they could overhear any more goodies…When I say detained, they were probably just told to leave the area, but my way sounds better.

With all of the iPad 2 and Android Tablet news running ramped, will there be room for HP Palm to get some shine on their new tablet device? Even though the WebOS platform was well received and I think will be on par with the other platforms wrapped up in a tablet We will just have wait and for an official announcement.