I love my iPhone, I’m now a convert, but I still think there’s a long way to go to make it suitable as a true business device. There are so many posts and articles out there about the functionality of the iPhone, but none around the use in business.

I wouldn’t go back to a Blackberry, but there so pieces of functionality that would be really welcome. I’ve tried to explain my thoughts here:

Typing

I actually have no trouble typing on the iPhone. (I’ve even had races with Blackberry challengers in my office!) However, I think there are some improvements that could be made.

• Custom dictionary: The ability to add/amend words added to the dictionary
• Autotext: I miss the ability to type something on my Blackberry like myemail and it auto converts to david@davidburden.com
• The introduction of software such as Swype to make entry even faster
• Perhaps some shortcuts with a finger gesture – perhaps holding one finger in the bottom left corner and writing a big N across the screen with the other would take you straight to Compose New email

Email

I think this is where many of the quick wins could be found to make the device more Enterprise suitable.

• When composing an email, on a Blackberry it remembers the email account you last used to send to a particular email address. This would be useful.
• Now with iOS4, at least there is now a combined email list. However, I cannot tell which email belongs to which account. Perhaps a colour scheme like this for each email?

• Smaller fonts: Now the new iPhone has better contrast, can we not see an options for smaller fonts? Even on my Blackberry Bold, with worse resolution, I could easily read 6 pt – however I know this would cause an issue with usage if there was no keys or ball. But surely we can go a little smaller?
• Signatures for each email account: Having one signature for all accounts just doesn’t work. I want to set a signature for my corporate email only
• Expansion of the ActiveSync functionality: There needs to be more options here such as Out of Office, Tasks, Notes (which now works only with LDAP accounts). I know you can buy apps to do this, but this should be integrated. Integration with Exchange needs to be improved. If I replied or forwarded an email on my Blackberry, Exchange would know this and show me within my Exchange on my PC. There’s no link like this with the iPhone and Exchange.
• Split emails into days, mark all as read before marker: I would like the emails segregated into day chunks. A click on the bar that separates could mark all as read below?
• Ability to rearrange order of mailboxes: This is small, but I would like the ability to move the list of email account around.
• Option to incorporate SMS into email flow. I like the idea of having all communications in one area. Email, SMS and log of calls.