Events

Simple tips for staying connected on the road

By Blair Cook

Recently, I was reminded by a Southwest Airlines advertisement that in this economy, perhaps the best thing to do is get out there - visit clients, have the meeting face-to-face rather than over a conference call. Now is the time when relationships matter the most, and the road is often where the most fruitful business relationships are built.

But how does a professional stay connected while on the road? For me, it starts with a well thought-out plan of attack. From connectivity for devices to a charging plan for all the power hungry gadgets in my bag, some simple pre-trip planning can help you avoid even the hairiest of situations.

My mobile life essentially revolves around my smart phone. What makes the smart phone so mission critical is that it is my system for triaging e-mail and ensuring all balls are kept in the air. A breakdown of utilizing a BlackBerry or other mobile device for e-mail management can be found in David Allen's Getting Things Done, but all the appropriate Cliffs Notes are available here.

To ensure device connectivity at a low cost while overseas, I like to purchase a local SIM card, which allows me to provide a local number to business contacts and inexpensively make local calls. I then rely on my phone's Wi-Fi connection to sync data and conduct Skype calling (native apps are available for BlackBerry and iPhone users). Skype is an affordable and powerful tool. It is possible to do a week's worth of check-ins with the office and family while abroad for less than $5 USD.

Rounding out my mobile travel essentials are the gadgets that have a permanent home in my bag. They include:

  • USB flash drive for sharing files and getting last minute copies to Kinko's
  • Travel Wi-Fi router to turn the hotel LAN connection into a hotspot for Wi-Fi calling (great for T-Mobile and Skype users)
  • Travel power strip with USB - a travel power strip with a USB port has allowed me to carry just one power strip and one USB cable for all devices

Final note: This article was typed on a BlackBerry, proving that you don't have to be tethered to a PC to stay connected. Thanks for reading and be sure to e-mail or connect with me on Twitter (@NereusNow) with questions or tips to add to this post.




Nereus offered marketing communications support for the Tokyo SuperSpeed USB Developers Conference held in May.


In this issue:
Message from the president

Are you prepared to speak to the media?

Key questions to ask your communications pro

Monitor your brand, protect your reputation

Simple tips for staying connected on the road

Web site usability and design

Team member spotlight

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