Introduction
 
The much hyped iPhone from Apple, currently available in the US, is very useful for remote executives, employees and sales teams that are constantly mobile.  This paper will look into the merits (and cons) of using the iPhone with the on-demand NetSuite ERP/CRM application - enabling true mobile enterprise computing.

First the iPhone from Apple
 
The iPhone is a handheld PDA that performs like a regular cell phone, has a camera, email, SMS texting and internet capability.  The iPhone connects to the fastest connection automatically; be it the EDGE Network or WIFI.  

Pros

• Easy to use.  The iPhone is very intuitive and has a touch-screen user interface. 

• Good size. It fits comfortably in the palm of your hand.

• Fast keyboard (QUERTY) entry. Combining a very intelligent auto-correction and touch screen keyboard enables (once you get used to it)  very fast entry.

• Auto-connects to the fastest internet connection.  Be it a WIFI network or the EDGE cellular network.

• All functions - phone, calendar, email, internet, SMS text, stocks, YouTube, camera, maps, iPod, photos and weather are within one touch from the main screen.

• Great visual voicemail capability where you select the voicemail you want to hear first.

• SMS text is very visual and easy to use.

• Good signal strength.

• Browsing the internet is a great experience with Safari.  You can easily zoom and navigate around a web site using the intuitive interface.

Cons

• Cannot play mp3 files in email attachments.  This can be annoying if you're linked to a corporate PBX that emails you voice messages.

• The "." key is on a separate email layout.  Painful at first, but you soon get used to it.

• The battery life is not the best.  Lasts about 5 hours using the internet all the time.  Lasts about 3 days in standby with little usage.  So make sure you purchase several iPhone charging docks.

• No quick search for contacts.  You have to search by last and first initial in a Roladex format.

• No easy way to delete ALL email.  But livable since it only stores a maximum of 200 emails in a FIFO basis.

• No add-on applications available.

• Ring and speakerphone  is a bit on the quiet side - even at full volume.

• You cannot add in new ringtones.

In summary, the iPhone is a great all-in-one device and especially useful for browsing the web.

iPhone and using NetSuite.

NetSuite can be readily accessed from any browser.  The same ease of access is prevalent using the iPhone.  You login much like you would on a PC and navigate using the easy to use zoom function and simply tapping on the tab or hotlink. Most functions (albeit we did not test everything) seem to work.  And now for the screen timings.  The test was run on a WIFI network.  All test were performed using default screen layouts and standard NetSuite functionality.

. Times improve as the pages get cached.  These were all first load pages.

. Times improve as you get used to data entry.

. Better results will be obtained during entry if you cut all the clutter out using custom forms.  In this test, standard forms were used.

All in all, these times were excellent for a device of this nature.  Some of the slowness in data entry is due to long list selects (eg. partner lists)  - we could not figure out a way of short cutting these lists using the roladex style interface.

Pros

• Safari really helps here with the ability to zoom and navigate around the pages.

• Acceptable speed times.  These significantly degrade if your on the EDGE network. 

• Most functions seem to work well.

• Bar the need for specialist applications, eliminates the need and expense of Mobile integration and companies that sell such.

• Multiple instances of the pages makes it easy to multi-task.

Cons

• Long lists are difficult to select in the drop down.  Anything > 50 takes a bit of time.

• Some of the UI is difficult to navigate due to poor UI design in certain instances.  eg. selecting item options.  What is clunky on a PC is compounded on the iPhone.

• The NetSuite product times out after a set period of inactivity. This is annoying and due to the NetSuite system not having a user configurable time-out.

Who would use such a device ?

• Anyone that is mobile and away from the office.

• Anyone that needs real-time information and not necessarily at a PC.

• Sales People to process orders at client sites without using a laptop.

• People who need contact information quickly.

• The applications are endless.

Outlook Syncronization

Using NetSuite's Intellisync the synchronization of Outlook worked fine in our tests.  When you plug in the iPhone to your computer your events will show up in your calendar. 

Quote from Skyytek
 
Ray Tetlow, CEO of Skyytek Worldwide states, "Several of our sales people, consultants and executives are using the iPhone and NetSuite when they are on the road and not in the office.  Already its decreased our response times, improved our customer service and above all, enabled us to enter urgent sales orders in a timely manner.  Its a great device and will only improve over time".

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