Our latest version of field software, Pocket TOTAL, has been in beta for a few months now and it’s being released May 1st. It's designed to run on Pocket PC's, like the popular HP Jornada 560 series and the iPAQ's. This will be our 3rd release of field software (our first was way back in 1993).
We’re in the last two weeks of beta. Right now, we’re finishing up the XML portion that’ll enable Pocket TOTAL to be integrated with any software vendor that’s AI Ready.
Handheld and Pocket PC’s are much superior to Palm’s. I’d qualify that to say “in my opinion” but there’s really no true comparison when you have them side-by-side. I think anyone’s who’s ever had real experience in this area would agree.
Anyway, a few of the features in our new version of Pocket TOTAL are:
- Pocket Apex included and fully integrated
- FieldPad for free-form drawing and note taking
- Voice recording integrated on a per report basis
- Handwriting recognition enabled
- 10 forms to date (including VC Sheets) and the ability to create your own using our Pocket Genie
- Critical fields feature so you can customize a form to see and move through only those fields you think are important onsite
- Ability to set up Text Database (canned) comments to quickly fill out forms
- Complete photo integration via standard memory cards (like CF) as well as integration with the HP Pocket camera (it runs about $150 and takes very nice pictures)
- Wireless EDI (send/receive reports while in the field)
- GPS area
- Report manager to create your own management area for appraisal files
To answer your question directly, although our second version of Pocket TOTAL runs on Handheld PC’s, I’d recommend holding off two weeks until we release our latest version, which runs on Pocket PC’s. Whatever you do, don’t waste your money on those Palm devices. They may be good for Realtors but they’re very lacking when it comes to appraiser’s needs.
Mike Unser
Product Manager
a la mode, inc.
