Hi C J

I am surprised your MLS isn't using the Ibox with eKey from Supra. When you use a Palm or cariations there of every night when your access code updates you also get an up to date mini MLS Download with the particulars. We use it here and it is great since when I am out with customers and they see a sign I can stop the car and in a few seconds tell them the price and details of the listing.

The same can be integrated with the cell phone (some models) but I like having seperate devices, if one thing breaks it dosen't knock me out of business completely

Good Luck,

JD "Dan" Weisenburger, GRI
Broker-Associate
Vanguard Realt, Inc., GMAC Real Estate

Yes, there is another service called Mobile Agent that provides all listing access on all homes listed in the market simply by texting the street address of the property to a short code. The system can be used by agents and their buyers and it works on 99% of all cell phones not just the ones with web browsers. If the buyer or agent has a web enabled phone they can view 12 photos of each property or whatever is available from the MLS. The system also can push MMS photos as well. The service is currently being used by several thousand agents accross the country and is avaliable in most markets...there really isn't anything else like it.

There is a new service coming to the bay area called hotlinkmls which will be available to homebuyers for no charge and a nominal charge for agents (listing fees are 14.99 to 9.99 a month per month). What makes this a superior product is it uses a web based site that anyone can view with a web enabled cellphone! each listing includes price, information pages, up to 12 pics per listing, Agent Profile page, Realty Profile and links to all your listings. Although in the final beta stage I invite you to visit the mobile site at htlnk .(built for your phone not your PC) if you have any suggestions or comments we would love to hear from you
Jess Taylor

Terri,Sorry I didn't see this sooner. I did not particularly like Pocket Real Estate but I had a very early version and have not revisited the software. The current edata with Supra is o.k. Somewhat limited in scope and look. I've had clients go on line with their cell phones and get data quicker than me sometimes!But this stuff I have is "real" or updated when the synch was donw a few hours earlier.
Did you go to the DickBetts.com site? You can actually ask him which cell service is the best in your area. But he'll reccomend the TREO over all others for MLS acess/multi-functionality.

Mike- yeh - me too!
How did you like Pocket Real estate?
I heard it is very slow and cumbersome.

CJ

Terri,
Yes, I use it when I'm out tooling around previewing and see a new listing and want to get in, when I'm at an open house and don't have my lap top, when I'm with a client and they all of a sudden want to scrap the ones I'm showing them and either move UP or DOWN :-( . Besides it just makes everything so much more easier when you've got your LB key, data-base AND cell/smart phone in one unit. I ALWAYS have my cell phone wih me so it's good to have everything there. We've got the "other" key pad and now the "token" which is the thingie which gives you ANOTHER number to punch in to get MLS access. So I welcome any tool which can get it on one mobile tool--my cell phone.
CJ--I you'll have to be for the "after-market" tool which is "Pocket Real Estate". It's very similiar and I had it before we switched over. I can't believe such and hip,slick and cool area of San Jose does NOT have the ekey for your Treo. I figured you folks would be on the bleeding edge of technology.

Just to let all know that are interested, SCCAOR is not going to have e-key for the hand helds for awhile. I spoke with the office and they stated their current contract with the display keys goes until 2012. So...

However, I do think the East Bay Association has the service.

FYI,
CJ

Michael, do you find that you use the information on the Treo? Do they charge an additional fee?

CJ, Don't you have the Treo and the e-key through Supra? You get all the listings you wish to set as a parameter search and then it hotsynchs all changes/additons, etc every day wirelessly.I use the Treo as the blackberry's infrared connector is not functioning due to a lawsuit dispute. Here's a great web site to go to to see which cell service/MLS set up you should consider:

There's a great instructor named Dick Betts. His web site is his name with the dot com after it!! I tried to put his web site in but the word police busted me for spamming!! He speaks to Realtor organizations all over the nation and is a contractor for Supra. He can tell you all the best systems to use. If you ever get a chance to see him do so!! Bring your Cell phone/pds/smartphone and he'll tell you if it's a keeper or a throw back!

Hi CJ,

Years ago when it first calm out Palm had a pocket mls... it was so slow I found that I didn't use it that often, so I CX the service. I'd like to hear the outcome of anything new and improved, which is useful too.