And if you're a worker in the field, you might just learn to love it.
AT&T, which used to be Cingular, rolled out a service last month that turns a BlackBerry into a device that keeps track of your "mobile resources." That is to say, your workers.
They've taken the built-in GPS (global positioning system) feature available on newer BlackBerry models and added a back-end system aimed at business users.
Let's say, for example, that your company has 20 delivery trucks on the road at any one time. Hand each driver a specially equipped BlackBerry and from a computer in your home office (or even on your own BlackBerry) you can see each driver's location any time you want. When a call comes in from a customer, you can see which driver is closest and dispatch that one for the job.
Not only that, but the system AT&T uses also lets you keep a record of where your employees have been and how long they spent there.
You can also add a push-to-talk feature, turning a set of 20 BlackBerry devices into a real-time wireless dispatch system.
There are plenty of dispatching systems on the market -- truckers, taxi companies and delivery companies have been using and perfecting them for years.
What sets AT&T's BlackBerry apart is that for a relatively low cost (more on that later) you can equip a small or large business with both dispatching and tracking features as well as all the stuff you get on a BlackBerry: phone service, e-mail and a GPS to look up directions.
Cell phone or PDA-based systems designed to let bosses track workers via GPS technology aren't new. In fact, other carriers, notably Sprint Nextel, have been providing services like this for several years.
AT&T has taken its time (they've been busy merging networks), and it's nice to see the service available on the newest BlackBerry 8800.
There are some downsides -- the 8800 works only on AT&T's slower Edge network. In addition, you have to keep these devices juiced. I didn't test the unit I received, but others have reported five to seven hours of talk time and up to 22 days of standby time. Generally speaking, GPS service will drain a battery faster than just speaking on the phone.
AT&T says it will work with companies to get the GPS service it uses -- TeleNav Track -- linked to a business customer's specific corporate operations. Things such as wireless timecards (no visiting the office at all for road warriors) or bar-code scanning can be linked up with the service, AT&T says.
You also have access to a business finder that lets you search a database of 10 million so-called points of interest: ATMs, restaurants, hotels, cheapest gas nearby, etc. For a salesperson constantly on the road or a business traveler, this can be useful.
Although you might not like the idea of a boss knowing where you are (you can always turn it off), the gadget allows for smooth and efficient dispatching, which can be helpful to both bosses and employees in the field.
The BlackBerry sells for $300 with a two-year contract. You need a data plan, and there is the added cost of the GPS service, which ranges from $13 to $22 per month per device. In addition, they charge a one-time setup fee of $20 per device. Add the push-to-talk feature and you'll pay $10 more per month per device.
The GPS service is available to consumers as well as businesses. I checked it out and can say it's pretty good. None of the GPS systems I've used has been able to figure out that Manhattan's George Washington Bridge has an upper and lower deck (not a good thing for the intrepid out-of-towner trying to cross the Hudson). I liked the 3D map, which moved as I drove, and thought if I actually used the thing in my car I'd need a little holder to keep it on my dashboard.
I couldn't test the tracking and dispatching feature of the system, and can't claim any familiarity with traditional dispatch systems on the market, but if your company uses BlackBerrys and the boss would like to keep track of the troops, then AT&T's latest entry is an option to explore.
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(c) 2007, North Jersey Media Group Inc. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via Newscom.
