Mobile phone accessories for all your business needs

by Matthew Wall

The executive on the move needs to work efficiently, effortlessly and without fuss. This means travelling light and making the most of technology that is easy to use, reliable, and totally portable. Fortunately there are a host of gadgets on the market designed to make your mobile office run as smooth as silk.

But inputting data was traditionally difficult for small-screen mobile devices, even using predictive text programs, such as T9, on a numeric keyboard. This is fine for short messages and emails but not for typing out long replies and word documents. While some PDAs and mobiles include mini QWERTY keyboards, they still struggle to compete with laptop-sized keyboards.

Now, thanks to Bluetooth wireless technology, you can get foldable keyboards, such as the Nokia SU-8W or the iGO Stowaway, that provide all the functionality and ease of use of a full-size computer keyboard without the need for cables and without taking up space in your briefcase. Or if you really want to go high-tech, why not try the Celluon Laserkey CL850 Bluetooth projection keyboard that projects a virtual keyboard onto any flat surface?

If you do a lot of travelling by car you obviously need a hands-free kit for your mobile. You can combine sleek design with eco-friendliness with the LG HFB-500 Solar Bluetooth Carkit that is powered by the sun and provides up to 16 hours of talk time. And just in case you don’t trust the British climate to provide enough power, it comes with an in-car charger as well.

If your Bluetooth phone/PDA is smart enough and has a large-enough screen it should be capable of handling navigation software. So rather than buying an expensive standalone sat-nav system for your car, try getting a Bluetooth GPS receiver to link with your mobile device instead. You can get decent models from manufacturers such as BlueNEXT for less than £30. All you need then is a good cradle for your mobile – why not look for one that charges as well?

When travelling by plane or train, the last thing you want is to become entangled in trailing wires, so it makes sense to use a Bluetooth earpiece, such as the Jabra BT250v. And if you just want to kick back, relax and listen to some music while en route to your next appointment, you can also get Bluetooth stereo headphones, such as Motorola’s HT820s.

If your mobile doesn’t have built-in Bluetooth, Jabra’s A120 stereo adaptor will make it compatible with the headphones and enable you to use them with your MP3 player. But even with your music on loud you still won’t miss that crucial call because the earphones will pick up the ringtone from your Bluetooth enabled phone.

Keeping your gadgets powered-up is crucial for the business traveller. When going abroad you’ll obviously need a power adaptor kit for charging up your mobile devices in the hotel or office. It may be worth purchasing an extra battery too, just in case you’re somewhere remote without access to a mains power supply. And a universal mini-USB data cable might also be a good idea – this way, you can recharge your mobile device at the same time as linking up to office computers to transfer or print documents.