Realtors and the rumored Apple Tablet
From Future of Real Estate Marketing
By Katie Lance, Wednesday, January 27, 2010.On Wednesday, Jan. 27, Apple is expected to unveil the company's long-rumored tablet device. Apple sent out invitations to select media outlets Monday morning, asking people to "join us for an invitation-only event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco."
The tablet is rumored to cost from $500 to $1,000, and many Realtors will undoubtedly be wondering if they should make the move to a tablet-like device. The launch of an all-in-one, touch-screen tablet computer could spark the same excitement from agents and brokers that followed the iPhone's launch in 2007.
What would the Apple Tablet mean for Realtors?
1. Portability
This may be the single biggest selling factor Apple will have when marketing to Realtors. A Realtor could easily slip the tablet into their bag or briefcase. If the tablet is as sleek and as thin as rumored, it will be simpler to transport than a traditional laptop. Also, as agents are moving more and more away from a "traditional" office, something as light and portable as a tablet is sure to be enticing.
2. Paperless
This topic has been talked about for a few years at least, but the tablet may be the catalyst to make it happen industrywide. The tablet potentially will have the ability to easily pull up contracts and receive digital signatures on the spot. If this is the case, a client would be able to literally "sign" their contract on the tablet -- much like how they accept a UPS package by signing on the UPS "tablet." ...CONTINUED
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Submitted by Craig Frooninckx on January 27, 2010 - 7:33am.
Oh yea, I do think the Apple "tablet" will be a game changer for Real Estate and a host of other industries and I've outlined in my post http://www.craigsarizona.com/love-game-changers-coming/ I will watching the annoucement with excessive anticipation.
Submitted by Shriber on January 27, 2010 - 9:35am.
I've had my tablet for years, this is just new for Apple. I don't know how I'd do business without it, although electronic signatures are nice too. But so many offers and docs need an actual signature, that's where the tablet really comes in handy, without going through reams of paper. And then, a nice CD with your company logo at the close of escrow is a great finishing touch.
Submitted by Prabakar Mahalingam on January 27, 2010 - 5:32pm.
This is great news for the Real Estate Professional who loves the MAC OS - and yes, there are many of you out there. Like Shriber commented above, there has been tablet PCs in real estate for years now and those who have been using Real Estate Dashboard software on a tablet PC can testify that they can't do business without it. Getting "biometric" electronic signatures via a tablet PC is the best client experience you can have and still remain paperless! We are excited and will be anxiously waiting for the SDK to develop and release the Real Estate Dashboard software for the iPad.
Check out Real Estate Dashboard software for tablet PCs at http://gopaperless.com/Solutions-red.aspx
Prabakar Mahalingam
COO/CFO
GoPaperless Solutions
www.gopaperless.com
760-432-6093
Submitted by Jonathan Rainer on January 28, 2010 - 8:16am.
The only problem: this isn't a Mac OS...the specs I read indicate an iPhone OS. Which means it can run exactly ONE application at a time. Want to have two web pages open? Nope. Want to open a web page and your contacts lists? Nope. Want to open Outlook, or whatever Microsoft software you use that is Mac compatible? Nope.
Tablet PC's have been around and are as easy to use as Macs. Game changer? Again, a resounding no.
It also doesn't appear to be built to withstand significant rough handling. I could be wrong on that one, but it looks like one slight fall and a cracked screen means no more iPad....screen cracks were one of the main problems with the iPhone.
Finally, it was emphasized they designed this with gaming in mind. It wasn't built for productivity. So, in all, I think this is just a very expensive e-book reader that can use iPhone apps. On the bright side, you could probably set it as an electronic photo frame on your end table!
Submitted by Prabakar Mahalingam on January 29, 2010 - 4:05pm.
Jonathan, thanks for clarifying. I missed that part. This is not a MAC OSX and therefore not a productivity tool. Maybe media device, but not business friendly.
Prabakar Mahalingam
CFO, VP-Business Development
GoPaperless Solutions
www.gopaperless.com
760-432-6093
Submitted by Chuck Gillooley on January 31, 2010 - 6:29am.
Now that the iPad is out, it's clearly not a fit for the tasks you outlined in the original post. Nowhere to sign on the screen, nor the software to take advantage of such capability. And it is the iPhone OS, not the Mac OSX. (By the way, Safari is a browser, not an operating system.)
Apple is clearly aiming this to compete with Kindle, not tablet PC's. Will it be useful for Realtors? Certainly -- but think of it as a big iPhone, and nothing else.
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Submitted by David Millwallikas on March 5, 2011 - 6:48pm.
This is really a great news for Apple users. Since it was long time back Apple said that they are going to give their customers a big surprise "tablet" this is going to bring a revolution in our future business it's portability and paperless idea. Moreover for real estate agents it would be very easy to get digital signatures on the spot. The only thing I am concerned about is will it remain for a long time and how would we repair it.
Do let me know further.
Submitted by David Millwallikas on March 5, 2011 - 6:49pm.
This is really a great news for Apple users. Since it was long time back Apple said that they are going to give their customers a big surprise "tablet" this is going to bring a revolution in our future business it's portability and paperless idea. Moreover for real estate agents it would be very easy to get digital signatures on the spot. The only thing I am concerned about is will it remain for a long time and how would we repair it.
Do let me know further.