Small Business

The Six Best iPhone OS 3.0 Updates for Business Users

By Rick Broida

Updated on: March 17, 2009 / 2:34 PM EDT / MoneyWatch

Apple just took the wraps off iPhone OS 3.0, which brings a number of interesting updates and features to everybody's favorite phone. Here's a list of six that should prove mighty welcome to business users:

Cut, Copy, and Paste Hard to believe it took so long for Apple to roll out this feature, but it's here at last. To use it, you double-tap some text, which brings up a "Cut, Copy, Paste" bubble, then drag your finger to select your text. Double-tap again later to bring up a paste bubble. Undo it by shaking the phone.

Improved GPS In a nutshell, you'll now be able to use your iPhone as a bona fide navigation system, complete with turn-by-turn directions. That sound you hear is Garmin and TomTom quaking in their boots.
MMS Yes, you can now send photos via text message (a process commonly known as MMS). OS 3.0 also lets you send multiple photo attachments via e-mail.
Notes Sync I'm not positive, but this would seem to indicate synchronization with Outlook Notes. Now we just need task sync and we're all set!
Peer-to-Peer Connectivity Remember how PalmPilots could "beam" information back and forth? Now you can do likewise with your iPhone. That means you'll be able to swap, say, a virtual business card without all the hassles of a service like Dropcard.
Push Notifications Apps can now deliver audio alerts, text alerts, and "badge" alerts. So if someone sends you an instant message, for instance, you'll get it -- even if your IM app isn't running. Speaking of which, Meebo just unveiled an iPhone app that takes full advantage of these new features. That's awesome: I'm a huge fan of Meebo's Web-based instant-messaging service. Oracle also announced some interesting CRM stuff that'll leverage push notifications.

Other newsworthy updates include wider support for landscape mode (there's now a widescreen keyboard -- yay!), voice memos you can send via e-mail or SMS, in-app searching, "VPN on demand," and stereo Bluetooth (meaning you'll finally be able to enjoy music on wireless headphones).

We'll have more iPhone OS 3.0 coverage as the news arrives. In the meantime, what do you think of these updates? Did Apple finally fill in all the missing pieces, or did they forget a key feature you've been pining for? Hit the Comments and speak your mind.

My only complaint? We'll have to wait until summer to get the new OS. Ah, well, at least it'll be free for current iPhone owners. The iPod Touch crowd will have to pony up $9.95. Photos by Gizmodo.