Business Traveler? Five Apps You Need…
Business Traveler? Five Apps You Need…
As mobile devices begin to take the place of laptops for businesspeople, CNNMoney.com reports on the top five indispensable apps for professionals on the go.
- Expensify: This free app lets you log mileage, file expense reports and upload a limited number of receipts using your phone’s camera (a smart scanning system automatically extracts information like the date and the amount charged). Available on iPhone/iPad, Android, WebOS, and BlackBerry devices.
- WebEx Meeting Center: The online conferencing tool from Cisco Systems has plenty of cheaper competitors, but lots of businesses still use it. The mobile version lets you easily join meetings (you must be a paying WebEx subscriber to initiate calls), share documents and presentations, and chat with other participants. Added perk: Transfer a meeting from phone to computer mid-call with a flick of the wrist. Free on iPhone/iPad, Android, and BlackBerry devices.
- Tripit: Tripit is an easy way to keep up with multiple flights, car rentals, and hotel reservations. Just forward all travel confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com and Tripit delivers a master itinerary to your phone. The basic app is free but added features (like tracking frequent-flier miles) cost $49 a year. Available on iPhone/iPad, Android, and BlackBerry devices.
- Roambi: This colorful app transforms data into interactive charts and graphs and instantly sends them to your mobile device. A free version syncs with Excel, but your company will need to pay a $795 one-time license fee for integration with more heavy-duty business-intelligence systems like SAP BusinessObjects and IBM Cognos. Available on iPhone and iPad.
- Box: This app is a good bet for viewing and sharing files on the go. The password-protected mobile app lets you collaborate on documents and spreadsheets in the cloud (à la Google Docs). The app and basic Box account are free but come with limited storage. More gigabytes start at $15 a month. Available on iPad/iPhone and Android devices. ◆