Article: "Put your cell phone to work"
COMMUNICATOR - Spring 2006 - Issue 41
by Brad Blumberg

Move over ring tones and games, mobile applications are growing up. These new applications can make you more efficient and, in some cases, a better real estate professional. Many of the most useful mobile applications for real estate professionals can be downloaded and accessed from your existing cell phone. These powerful new tools combine technologies such as Global Positioning Systems (GPS), fast wireless networks and advanced mapping features. With these applications, you can use your cell phone to drive to an appointment and get there on time as your cell phone navigates your route with voice activated turn-byturn directions.

Along with turn-by-turn directions, detailed maps make it easy to locate the address of your next inspection or appraisal anywhere in the United States. These GPS systems also feature points of interest (POI’s) such as hotels, restaurants and shopping centers.When you reach your destination, the GPS in your cell phone pulls up all the relevant public record data on your location including the last sold price, last sold date, and the number of bedrooms and baths with just one click. With one more click, you can map all the recently sold properties closest to your location and pull down property records as well. You become the most knowledgeable real estate professional on the block in under a minute.

Several companies now work with wireless carriers to turn your cell phone into a full-featured GPS navigator. Sprint launched a Garmin driving directions navigation application (garmin.com). Nextel has navigation applications by Mapquest (mapquest.com) and TelNav (telnav.com). Verizon just launched its own branded navigation product. Verizon navigation is currently available on a limited number of cell phone models, but the availability will increase in the coming months.

Each of these carriers is also rolling out applications that allow you to use websites to track the location of your vehicles from your office giving you the ability to efficiently schedule same-day appointments. You can even track your children’s whereabouts from their cell phone locations so you can work late and rest easy.

Carriers are also adding GPS applications tailored for specific real estate professionals. Pennsylvania based real estate technology company, Smarter Agent (www.smarteragent.com), is releasing a patented set of GPS triggered real estate applications available from cell phones. Available this spring, these applications will be carried by several national carriers. With these applications, appraisers and inspectors can drive around and instantly receive real estate information such as public record data, rental and neighborhood information, and, in the future, Multiple Listing Service (MLS) reports.


By 2007, it will be possible for realty agents, insurers, appraisers and inspectors to post location-sensitive ads on cell phones. For example, instead of just using the Internet to generate leads, inspectors and appraisers will use cell phones to target customers looking for properties in specific areas. The appraiser or inspector will be able to post ads that mention the work they have done on homes in that particular neighborhood. The cell phone will become the real estate professional’s most powerful one-to-one marketing tool.

Adding GPS, wireless or mapping tools to your phone is affordable and easy to do. Depending on the services you add, applications to your cell phone will cost from $5 to $30 per month and the charges are made to your existing phone bill. Your existing cell phone may already be capable of supporting GPS, wireless and mapping functions. In order to find out if your phone supports GPS (sometimes called Location Based Service or LBS), you may need to visit your local carrier’s website or retail store.

However, adding these real estate applications may be as easy as downloading them directly from your phone.

Carriers are increasing the number of premium grade applications they offer. Look for the application or download area. This is different than surfing the web via your cell phone.You can look for these tools in the “business” or “information” areas of the phone in the same place you would look for downloadable ring tones or games. If you really get stumped, ask the closest teenager where they download music and games. The under 25 age group racked up several billion dollars of mobile applications last year alone.

The whole world is going mobile. You already rely on your cell phone to stay in touch. Now a whole new world of productivity applications will make that device as important as your internet connection. Plus they are not bad busybody tools either! You can quickly learn what your neighbor paid for his house, or what homes are selling for in your favorite vacation spot.

Brad Blumberg is the CEO of Smarter Agent and the inventor, patent holder and operator of GPS/location triggered mobile real estate searches. For more information, please visit www.smarteragent.com.