Installing BigFix.me MDM onto your iOS devices.

The following step-by-step process demonstrates how to install/configure MDM on your iOS devices… iPhones, iPods, and iPads.

1. Visit https://bigfix.me using your mobile device. Step 1 of 13
2. Click "Continue to this website (not recommended)" if prompted. Step 2 of 13
3. Click the "SSL certificate" link towards the bottom. Step 3 of 13
4. Click the "Install" button on the "Install Profile" screen. Step 4 of 13
5. Click the "Install" button on the "Warning" screen. Step 5 of 13
6. If you have a password set, you will need to enter it now and hit "Done". Step 6 of 13
7. Click the "Done" button on the "Profile Installed" screen, you will be returned to Sarfari. Step 7 of 13
8. Enter your email address, choose Device Ownership value and click the "Enroll" button. Step 8 of 13
9. Click the "Install" button on the "Install Profile" screen. Step 9 of 13
10. Click the "Install Now" button within the popup box. Step 10 of 13
11. If you have a password set, you will need to enter it now. Step 11 of 13
12. Click the "Install" button one more time for the "Warning" screen and your done. Step 12 of 13
13. Click "Done" and your all finished. Step 13 of 13

iPad Excitment

I’m really loving my new iPad. I only wish my distributed web server project was going so well.

Basically my distributed web server project is this: I want to have several web and dns servers spread out around North West Arkansas. These servers are all setup through load balancing and round robin techniques to serve up my web pages and supply me with fully redundant dns servers. The main advantage is the redundant nature. I can spend less on servers and Internet connections, oh even power and generators if the website is spread around town at different locations.
I now have two webservers setup around town but having lots of trouble with the websites I want to setup. I started off badly though… I’m trying to setup some one elses websites which are not designed for is kind of environment.
I should start with one of my own projects like the BitRac Client Utility admin website at msp.clientutility.com. This is a website I’ve constructed in asp.net and c# to give me access to all the computers I manage around Northwest Arkansas.

Now at I write this, guess that’s what I’ll do…

I’ll let you know my progress…

Realtors and Technology

I help several Realtors within Northwest Arkansas in my business, Moran IT.  These customers have a particularly need to be extremely mobile.  Over the years several technologies have come out to help them in their business.

But first a little about how a Realtor does business.  Realtors typically spend about 50-60% of their time out in the field, 30-40% in the office researching and marketing their businesses, and the remaining time spent with clients during meetings to close on houses.

As you can see this presents several challenges in order to keep their technology costs low, after all every business must keep costs down to make a profit.

Because of their unique challenges, I have come up with several technology choices to best service this type of business:

imagesMLXchange  This is a software product by their local realtors board that must be used in order to “List” houses on the market.  Basically, the MLXchange software is the “market”. 
Most realtors don’t take full advantage of this cloud-service/app.  For one thing, realtors can keep their entire client-base, including status (searching, selling, etc…), full contact information, personal information like birthdays, and so much more.  Second, the MLXchange software allows the realtor to setup repeat searches designed to email their clients when houses are found that match their criteria.  And so so much more..  (email, calendaring).  This Web App leads me to my second piece of technology for realtors:

verizonNetBook with cellular internet access.  Now I know what your thinking, this will cost too much…but I would like to differ.  Verizon has a $199 down and as low as $39.99/month for an HP Mini netbook with 3g internet access.  This means you can access MLXchange while in front of a house… Just imagine it, you could be showing a client one of several houses, when they ask you something new.  Log into MLXchange via your netbook and have the answer immediately.
Just be sure you pickup the car-charger and possibly setup a “platform” within your vehicle to sit your netbook onto.  I built my own personal laptop mount out of a specially cut piece of Plexiglas, a 1 foot lead pipe and a few screws.

Lastly you’ll need a telephone.  Let’s face it, your a realtor, you need to have some way while in the field for your customers to contact you.  A cellular phone is the absolutely best way to do this.  My phone of choice… an iPhone.  Yes, I know, everyone is jumping onto this band-wagon… but there is a very good reason why people like it so much, this phone just works!  With the million plus add-on apps, ease of use and storage space… I did a quick search and found hundreds of realtor related applications, everything from mortgage calculators to Property search apps… An iPhone would keep you in-touch with the world.  And after all, isn’t part of being a good realtor 110% “being in touch”.

Shameless Plug Warning:  Ok, one last thing you will need to be a realtor on-top of his/her game… a good Tech person.  You need someone who has the expertise to solve any problems with the technologies I’ve recommended here and most importantly the patience to work with customers and not “talk down” to you like most techs out there.  Call Diana or Daniel with Moran IT at 479-250-1112 if your in Northwest Arkansas.  We want to help!!!

See there I go… shameless plugs, tisk, tisk, tisk.  But you know what, it pays the bills… right?