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What Did You Say?
The cell phone has evolved beyond its roots as a simple, unwired telephone and become a pocket-sized computer. Text messaging, Internet browsing, and the ability to run small applications such as a calculator and uncomplicated games are now basic and included in almost all models. Other functions, such as a contact book, call display, voice recorder and task manager have turned the cell phone into a digital assistant. The iPhone and BlackBerry have even more advanced functions, including a superior e-mail client and they can run more complex applications such as viewing and manipulating documents and spreadsheets.
One feature that at first seems frivolous is the integrated digital camera contained within nearly all mobile phones. Why would anyone want a camera on a telephone? Well, in addition to the obvious answer of taking candid photos of friends and co-workers, the cell-phone camera could not only be a lifesaver but also doubles as a tremendous public relations tool.
Create a Visual Record
Take pictures of:
- passports, credit cards, health cards, insurance certificates and driver's licences; any item that would create extreme hardship if lost, especially in a foreign jurisdiction;
- all travel equipment, including computers; this will assist in recovery if anything is lost or stolen and also provide a stronger basis from which to file an insurance claim;
- office locations, hotels, client contacts, and other points of reference when travelling to a foreign jurisdiction;
- the front, back and sides of your vehicle with the license plate number legible for identification in the event your vehicle is stolen; if renting a vehicle, these photographs will provide evidence of the vehicle's condition at the time of pickup in case the rental agency attempts to charge you for pre-existing damage;
- facial and full-length views of your travelling companions; if anyone goes missing, local authorities will have an up-to-date visual;
- the accident scene and individuals involved if your vehicle is in an accident; this will record damage to all vehicles or property and assist in recall and to reduce the potential for exaggerated third-party injury claims.
As an added security measure, store pictures in both the cell phone's internal memory and another medium separate from the phone such as a flash memory card, USB key, your computer hard drive, or an online storage medium such as your company e-mail or network drive.
Client Contact
Many camera phones allow you to take a picture and assign it to an individual in your contact book. When that person calls, their picture is displayed on the screen. This is a useful memory aid both for people who have difficulty associating a name to a face and as a way of jogging your memory when dealing with a contact whom you see infrequently and may not recognize immediately. The picture can also be sent to another phone or e-mail address where it could be used by staff picking someone up at an airport or hotel.
Now That's Customer Service
The full benefits of using a camera phone in everyday business are limited only by the needs and imaginations of the users. Encourage your employees to treat their camera phones as an extension of their everyday business applications.
Consider, for example, the benefit of a camera phone during a service or sales call. If your customer wants to find, replace or repair a widget you never knew existed rather than trying to describe it to your suppliers or parts department, just take a picture and email it to them.
If it is a replacement-warranty issue, take a picture of the item and the serial number and email it to customer service. The replacement can be on its way even before you leave the client's office.
Moving Pictures
Many cell phones can capture short video clips. Some newer third-generation handsets even allow video calls in real time between subscribers using built-in cameras! |
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