The wait is over, and the HTC Hero is finally here.  Yes, we know that the review is late.  Yes, we know that there are several reviews out there already.

Maybe this is just one more in the pool.  Or, maybe this is one of those reviews from someone who actually uses the phone in a business setting.......someone similar to you.

First impressions of the Hero are awesome.  The phone looks really nice right out of the box.

Once the phone was powered up, we quickly noticed how vibrant, clear, and crisp the screen was.  We also noticed that the touchscreen was very accurate and responsive.

Upon activation, the time, date, and weather are updated for your area.  This is a really nice feature.  There are a few quick links on the main screen that can be customized, as well as the ability to swipe left or right for more functions and features.

Placing a phone call was simple, and contacts are easily pulled up thorugh the use of the dial pad.

Connection to our Exchange server was quick and simple, and with a few tweaks we were receiving emails quickly. 

Ok, so on to the cool features.  There is a notifications bar at the top of the screen that alerts you to Twitter updates, missed calls, emails, etc.  From any screen you can drag this bar down and go directly to what you have missed.  This is an amazing feature.

Also, the weather function.  When it is raining in your area, the screen actually looks like rain is hitting it, and then a windshield wiper goes across the screen and cleans it off..........definitely a pretty cool feature.

All in all, I am not a huge fan of on screen keyboard phones, but this one is simple to use with the word anticipation feature.  Words that are misspelled are easily fixed with this feature, and typing becomes a breeze.  The phone also memorizes words that you use and saves them in the vocabulary for the next time you use it.

So, my final verdict?  The phone is definitely worth buying.  Would I recommend it over my trusty Blackberry?  I am not sure yet, but so far things look good.

Until next time.................

As a consultant, I receive a ton of questions.  Most of them are worded differently, but they are cased on the same topic.  I decided that today would be a good day to refresh the blog with the answer to one of the questions that I receive all the time.

One of the things that we at OneBridge specialize in is wireless bill management.  Also call wireless account services, this solution basically takes a large wireless bill and makes it smaller.

Any company out there is susceptible to the large phone bill, they do not discriminate.  Wireless bills start out small, but over time, as companies grow and hire employees, the bill becomes harder to manage, larger, and definitely harder to read.

The charges go up, things become more confusing, and eventually your company becomes a victim of what we call "rip and pay."  The term basically means that instead of looking at the bill, you more or less rip open the bill, check the balance due on the first page, and stroke the check.

What companies do not realize is that they are leaving tons of money behind, kind of like the GEICO commercial.  The money is there, you just to go get it.

But, how do you get it? 

Well, there are several ways in which to get it.

First, take a look at how your users actually use their phones.  Do they use texting to communicate with other employees?  Do they use email?  These communication methods may cost extra, but in the big picture they can actually save you money.

Second, who do you do business with?  Many people do not realize that the companies that they do business with can actually save them money.  Although most of these discounts are not advertised, they are out there.

Next, are you on the correct rate plans?  Wireless companies would like for you to think that an unlimited plan is "the best deal" going.  But, most users do not use half of the features that those unlimited plans offer, meaning that they are paying 50% more than they should.

Last, have you noticed how confusing those wireless bills are?  Reading a wireless bill is tougher than reading your doctor's handwriting.....you know what I mean.  Anyway, the point is that due to the confusing layout of those bills, there are possible errors and waste that are going unnoticed.

Knowing how to navigate through the steps above is tough, but not impossible.  You could call your wireless customer care department and waste a few hours on the phone talking to 7 different people, only to leave a message with someone who more than likely will not call you back.

Or, you could hire a company to complete these tasks for you.  There are several out there, including us, that streamline, manage, and reduce your monthly expense.

If you would like to know more, please feel free to leave us a message at www.onebridgewireless.com/contact.asp.