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All of us who spend most of their time in front of a computer know very well how much multi-tasking matters. The ability to perform an activity while keeping the doors open to other “notifications” coming from other apps is a must-have for everyone.

I’m reading blogs on my web browser and I can receive IMs on my Adium client, I’m working on a document and I can get an instant notification by my email application informing me that a new message just arrived. For us highly connected and fully involved into business activities everyday it’s pretty clear that acting immediately makes the difference more and more.

All that said, the ability to bring the experience above while on the go is a must-have for me and it’s definitely critical.  What devices let you make this happen? My personal experience leads me to this answer: Blackberry Bold (or equivalent BB). In addition, but I never tried it, I read that the Google Phone G1 by T-Mobile offers full multitasking as well.

What device DOESN’T offer you this experience? Apple iPhone. Again, while the iPhone is a fantastic device which offers a stunning user experience, it fails when it comes to using it within a business context since it is not possible to run multiple applications at a time. I already expressed my opinion a few weeks ago and I repeat it here: in order for business users to get an always-on multitasking experience on a mobile device, the iPhone is the device to avoid.

An example for all: the excellent service Truphone has just released the ability to connect to your Skype friends from your iPhone and iPod Touch running the Truphone app. Phoneboy points out that a recent chat with Truphone’s CEO confirmed that “…at this point, the app still has to be in the foreground in order to receive calls or receive IM messages“. This behavior is definitely not acceptable for a communication software, despite it’s not Truphone’s fault. But iPhone customers must deal with it.

What do you think? How far is the iPhone to become a business portable device? Is multitasking critical for your daily job while on the go?

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Technorati Tags: BlackBerry Bold, g1, iphone, ipod touch, luca filigheddu, multitasking, truphone, Web browser

The Apple iPod Touch is, to me, one of the best all-in-one portable device for music, internet & email. Since its latest firmware update when it officially became an “iPhone without the phone”, with the ability to install third part applications, it can be used as a powerful portable internet device.

The only downside is that you can mostly use it in your office/campus or at home, where you can get a wifi connection, otherwise it’s only an iPod.

Despite this, in all the cases when you are under Wifi coverage, the availability of new powerful communication applications can easily transform it in a fully-fledged mobile Wifi phone.

The latest one comes from Truphone, the UK-based mobile VoIP player popular for having been one of the first company to release a Symbian mobile VoIP application and for their service now available for a wide range of devices.

By installing Truphone, your iPod touch turns into a phone immediately. But what makes it more and more appealing is the set of upcoming features which will transform it into a complete dashboard for your social communications:

– Making and receiving calls to and from landlines (PSTN) at low cost (simply set yourself up with a Truphone account)
– Instant messaging to Skype and MSN (free)
– Calling to Skype users (free)
– Calling to MSN users (free)
– Check and set facilities for Twitter (free)
– Check and set facilities for Facebook (free)

Right now, calls among Truphone users are FREE already and users will definitely get a huge benefit from the ability to receive and make calls from/to landlines. It’s pretty clear that the advantages are limited to specific locations, but there are some other circumstances when this solution is a real problem solver.

That said, I’d like to share my experience. After the arrival of my second son, we moved our daily life at home to my house’s basement, where we have almost 100sqm, very useful for the little boys to play etc. The downside is the lack of GSM/3G reception, something which makes a wifi (house completely covered) phone a must have. If I could add the ability to receive calls to a local number, the iPod Touch + Truphone would mean bingo for me, also because a stand alone wifi phone would cost as much as the iPod touch but it’s a phone only

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Technorati Tags: Apple, iphone, ipod, ipod touch, luca filigheddu, skype, truphone, twitter

Om Malik recommends a new service which lets you send SMSs from your iPod Touch, completely for FREE.

MogoTXT, developed by a Californian company, actually works on any cell phone provided with a web browser, but the user experience on the iPod Touch is definitely much better.

According to their website, they also provide:

Group Chat;

Mobile-to-Mobile Texting;

Support for iPhone and iPod Touch;

Console To Manage Your Mobile; and,

Much, much more!

If you own an iPod Touch, give it a try.

Technorati Tags: Apple, ipod touch, luca filigheddu, mogotxt, sms