Peer to Peer Magazine

WWW.ILTANET.ORG 55 it offers because the possibilities are not immediately apparent. With the WP, once you know how to navigate and configure one app you can do them all. Some say WP has a simpler UI because it does not offer as much customization and functionality as the Android, but I thought it had just enough of both. • People Hub: With the WP, I felt much more connected to people because of the live tiles and updates that pushed to my home screen. A simple glance at my phone showed me what clients, colleagues and friends were up to via social media feeds and other interactions. WHAT I DO NOT MISS • Microsoft Integration: While it was a major reason I moved to WP in the first place, I do not miss the Microsoft Office integration because now I use Google Apps for Business, which utilizes Gmail for mail, calendaring and contacts. I can still access OneNote, which I use more than anything else in the Microsoft suite, and I review documents using various apps. THE BEST PART ABOUT THE SWITCH • Search and Navigation: Google beats Bing any day for navigation and search. Enough said. • "Appcessibility": Now that my daily priorities go beyond work needs, the availability of apps on the Android has made all the difference in how I use my phone. My mommy-related apps alone are far better than anything I had with WP; I think my two-year-old uses my phone as much as I do! My lifestyle apps have turned my phone into a replacement for browsing the Internet on my laptop. It seems like every consumer-based business now has a mobile-friendly app offering even more than their website, but many of those apps are not available for WP. THE BOTTOM LINE The decision surrounding which phone to use boils down to the apps. Do you need them or not? If I did not care about lifestyle and mommy apps, I would prefer the WP because of the UI, social integration and even MS integration. However, the apps make a difference when you use the phone for more than work. I am still waiting for the perfect phone: the operating system (OS) of a WP with the apps available on Android. Unfortunately, Microsoft has not figured out a way to deliver meaningful apps to Windows platform users. To meet my mobile device needs, I find myself with a diverse setup: an iPad for apps and browsing on a bigger screen, a Windows tablet for work and an Android phone for mobility with apps/ phone/data. If apps are someday developed for the Windows OS to the same extent as for iOS and Android, then perhaps I can convert to a Windows Surface and Windows Phone and realize my single platform dream. About the Author Brianna Leung is principal of Red Bird Strategy, LLC, a consultancy that works with professional services groups to develop business, client and team interactions using new and creative formats. Brianna draws from nearly 20 years of experience in sales, marketing and leadership training to help businesses reach new levels of success. Connect with her on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/briannaleung. The availability of apps on the Android has made all the difference in how I use my phone. NOTE: Since writing this article, Brianna's toddler smashed her Moto X phone, prompting her to buy yet another new phone. Stay tuned as the saga continues and Brianna explores her new Motorola Droid Turbo phone (now with smash-proof insurance)!

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