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RE: CRM for the iPad: Does It Exist? Can It? You Tell Me

Esteban.Kolsky 6th Apr 2010

I like these ideas, but they are mostly getting a
bigger screen for the iPad. To win the Gift
Certificate (which I will be happy to donate to
whomever needs it), the CRM app you are looking for
has to actually leverage the unique features and
functions of the iPad - not just a bigger screen.

So, what are these characteristics?

1. ability to run HTML-4 and HTML-5 apps without
zooming in and out constantly
2. ability to run iWork apps
3. ability to integrate seamlessly, effortlessly, and
amazingly with multi-media
4. ability to draw, take-notes, and manipulate images
and content without using a keyboard, simply by using
the screen and the tools you indicated above (plus
others)
5. ability to run very specialized apps, very fast
refresh screen, and very incredible graphics engine

I could go on, but you are getting the idea. Now, I
know this is not going to blow you away -- but this is
the Sales workstation we always wanted and tried to
replicate (and never got quite right) in laptops.
What else could a sales person want that being able to
use a touch-screen (instead of a keyboard) to share
the screen with the customer? demos? check, video and
online. note-taking? check, update records in CRM or
other systems? check, catalog and price books -- with
very nice pictures and even video? check, community
access to solve problems for customers? check, i could
go on... but, again, you see how it works.

this is, to me, the business justification. the
difference between using this an a laptop / other
tablet is that the speed in this one is incredible,
the battery life amazing, and the integration between
apps very well done (not to mention the apps
themselves).

Now, if you don't like this idea -- let's talk about
this becoming the uber-green-screen of the 21st
century --- but that is another story.