CRT helps you stay connected 24/7 from D.C.

Once again, CRT will be sponsoring a Wi Fi hot spot at  NAR’s  Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo, coming up May 15 - 19 in Washington, D.C. The Wi Fi hot spot will be available 24 hours a day in the Maryland Foyer at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. CRT staff members will be on hand to answer your questions at 9:00 a.m., 10:30, 12 noon, 1:30 p.m., 3:00, and 4:30 each day, expect Sat., when the hot spot shuts down at noon. In addition, NAR’s Blogger’s Lounge will be back. Members will be able to read and add to their blogs and meet other bloggers. The Lounge will be located in the Forum Room of the Omni Shoreham Hotel and will be open Tuesday, May 15, through Friday, May 18, from 12 noon until 8:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there.

Google’s launch of online applications for basic business software could provide an attractive new home for your business’s operations.

One of the most critical factors to consider when choosing new technology is whether you want to maintain the service in-house or outsource it.  And if you do decide to outsource, what level of outsourcing is best?   Do you outsource initial setup, go with a completely managed and hosted service, or choose something in between?

CRT has written about the options for rolling out e-mail.  With Google’s recent launch of an enterprise-level suite of applications called Google Premier, this decision is more far-reaching. Premier contains a branded (using your own Internet domain name) version of Google’s Gmail webmail solution, a Web page publisher, as well as such business software basics as word processor, spreadsheet, and calend.

Chicago’s Prudential Preferred Properties has been using this set of programs in a beta version since early 2006.  Recently, I spoke with the company’s Director of Technology, Camden Daily, and got his insights on why Prudential Preferred decided to use this online solution when it has relied on in-house technology solutions in the past.

Camden explained that the No. 1 appeal of the Google option was how little administration it required. This freedom lets his IT staff focus on broader ranging
projects. Additionally, since Google is now in the e-mail business, Prudential Preferred will benefit from a top-of-the-line, if not cutting-edge, program that will be updated more frequently than he is likely to do in-house. Finally, Camden and Prudential will be able to use Google services, such as Page Creator, spreadsheet, calendar, and Gmail, as the foundation for building back ends to support various forward-looking initiatives.

Ultimately, each company’s decision on outsourcing comes down to weighing many different options and determining which fall best in line with the company’s goals, current IT infrastructure, and cost expectations.  For example, hosted solutions are typically more expensive on a per-user basis but have a much lower cost of entry.  However, for smaller companies without IT infrastructures, the cost to get in-house talent can be prohibitive, making online hosting the best solution.

For the full interview with Chris, please see our recent blog post.

Chris McKeever
Strategic Architect
cgmckeever@crt.REALTORS.org

Wi Fi and cellular both let you unfetter your computer, but which is best?

Wireless data transfer is ubiquitous today, allowing people to surf the Web away from  home or office. Two of the most popular wireless connections are Wi Fi and cellular. So how do you choose which one to use? Both options rely on radio waves and the same sort of special chip to transmit information. Many of the newer laptops come equipped for both options. But there are some big differences between the two. 

The first and most important to most people is cost. Cellular connections require a contract and monthly fee. Fees will vary according to the cellular provider but may average between $40 and $60 a month. Wi Fi connections range from free in certain venues to a $5 to $15 fee for short-term usage at places like hotels and airports.

So on the face of things, Wi Fi would appear to be a better bet. But if you travel a lot and pay a fee for Wi Fi five times a month on average, a cellular connection may be less expensive. 

The next difference is availability. Cellular data connections have a clear edge here. Data connections are already available in many cities, and coverage is constantly expanding. Your cellular connection will work just as well in your car or on the beach as it does in your office. Wi Fi, which has a shorter range, doesn’t allow as much mobility or flexibility.

If you need speed, Wi Fi is the winner. The fastest cellular connections transfer data at around 2 Mb per second, whereas the fastest Wi Fi connections transfer data at around 100 Mb per second. So if you need to view videos or download files fast, stick with Wi Fi.

The ultimate solution may be Wi Max, which as the speed of Wi Fi and the long range of cellular. Unfortunately, Wi Max is two to four years away from being available nationally. So for now, make your choice depending on where your cost, availability, and speed needs.

Ian Smith
Senior Technical Support Analyst
ismith@REALTORS.org

New NAR technology survey also shows what tech tools REALTORS® use most.

The 2007 REALTOR® Technology Survey has found that 54 percent of real estate brokers, sales associates, and managers who responded spent more than $1,000 on business-related technology in 2006. Not surprisingly, brokers were the big spenders, with half spending between $2,000 and $3,000 on tech in ’06. Half of all sales associates (agents and associate brokers) spent $501 or more last year. Spending was at approximately the same levels as in last year’s survey.

Sales associates are also looking to their brokers for tech help, with 64.7 percent saying they want their broker to expand the amount of technology the company offers. However, 80 percent felt that the current services brokers provided were of value.

Other top tech findings from this annual survey conducted by CRT include
 
• 65 percent of respondents have their own business Web site.

• 75 percent spent $1,000 or less on building their site; only 5 percent spent $5,000 or more.  (An interesting side note: There was no correlation between how much was spent on a Web site and the number of transaction sides closed.)

• Respondents’ favorite Web sites to display their listings are REALTOR.com, the associate’s personal site, and the company’s site.  Those responding found the Internet more valuable than open houses or floor time for generating leads.

• 64 percent communicate with past clients quarterly or more often. Phone and e-mail are the prime tools to stay in touch with active clients. Mailings and market updates top the list of ways to reach former clients.

• 94 percent use a CMA in their listing presentation, mostly relying on CMA software programs furnished by their local MLS. About 35 percent were either somewhat or very dissatisfied with the CMA program available. The ability to personalize design was again the area “needing to be improved the most.”

• 72 percent used some electronic mapping application for business. The most useful applications for respondents were driving directions and outlined maps of neighborhoods and subdivisions.

• 38 percent of respondents’ companies have a written network security policy for staff, and 43 percent have a written policy for clients and consumers. About one-third of respondents did not know whether their company had written network security policies in place.

The entire results of the 2007 REALTOR® Technology Survey will be available for download beginning May 10, at www.realtors.org/crt.  If you have any questions on the survey’s findings, please get in touch with me or anyone else at CRT.

Ericka Luba
Communications Associate
eluba@realtors.org