Missy, in our area they have Supra interoperability with Palm Treo but not Blackberry yet. All this "simple" technology takes way too long to implement in my opinion. Then they charge you extra for the SmartPhone use. It is so stupid. Blackberry being the dominant SmartPhone should have been out years ago.

it all has to do with infrared. blackberry doesn't have it. you are going to have to get a little converter that will convert bluetooth to infrared. I hate the idea of having to carry an extra thingy, that's why I hate the display key and begrudgingly have a palm.

Missy, we went out to Supra in Oregon, this is cool, we will be getting this in our board also we are looking forward to it!  I hope that it works!  Gary the issue according to Supra was the lack of infrared in the Blackberry phone, according to them, they weren't sure that Real Estate people would want to carry the adapter anymore than they would like the Dkey pad.  Like you said, I would have thought that it would have come out sooner, and let us decide if we liked it or not.

Ah, it's the dumb RIM designers forgetting about the real estate vertical. Oh well, less revenue for that market segment. You're right who wants to carry around an adapter thingy. Someone missed the boat with the Blackberry. And they keep coming out with new models every six months. You think they would figure it out by now.

Michael, it is a small fob that will fit on your key. I'll report back how it goes.

Gary, I think they are on it. 

Hi Missy, In San Diego, we had that Supra system for 6 or 7 years and we moved up to a new type of technology and one that I really like so much better. SentriLock. The lockboxes have a much larger capacity for keys and the credit card entry is wonderful. I am sure youir board will migrate there eventually as the system is darn near flawless. 

Is it using the infrared port on your phone?  Are they going to release a Windows Mobile based version as well?  Let me know that was one of our reasons for not updating.  The current technology is antiquated!  This looks promising!

Missy... technology has been huge in the last several years. I know you could do this with TREO.  And blackberry has really stepped it up. They have been advertising their new model as of lately.

Supra has always maintained a program of profitability by planned obsolescence.

Of course, if they implement the use of the blackberry for access, they will then replace the e-Key with the SentriLock system. 

What's the current cost of a Blackberry?

All this shifting the sands of access from one expensive and complicated system to another does is encourage agents and brokers to brake the rules in order to have access. 

Right now, we have about 6 different BOR all in different stages of converting from the Supra to the SentriLock.  Some have it, some do not.  You can call a listing agent for a one time access code to a SentriLock box.  HA!  Try to get a listing agent on the phone 

Other than price, the primary cause of homes not being shown and sold is ACCESS. 

Real estate isn't hard enought to sell, so they make it even harder.  Perhaps it's all a conspiracy to trim the number of REALTORS.  Mmmmmm.

I'm a Blackberry user but am well aware that many in this business think the Trio is the way to go.  Does Trio have the software in question?  It doesn't impact me directly as we still use the old-fashioned lock boxes on Kauai but I'm curious nevertheless.

Aloha,

Richard

I wish our boards would switch over to the Supra.  Would make things much more secure for the sellers. I still don't understand their opposition to it..

I have resisted this so far. I try and not have email to my phone. I would like the MLS suprakey on it. But email. Im not sure Im ready to add another phone task.

Missy - Good luck with this. Our area is in transition from supra to sentrilock. I get to use sentrilocks on homes in some counties, and supra in others. I guess you could say that I have experience with both of these systems, as I've had both for 2 years now. My opinion is taht sentrilocks are much easier to use, and the access cards are easier to carry on you than a keypad(at least for guys).

I think this is pretty exciting ~ it would be great to have another option.  I currently use my Centro which is made by Palm, and I like it, but I would have liked to have had another operating system option, as well.

I wish somebody would train me on what all my Supra software can do.  I suspect there's more to it than I utilize.

I want it to work on my iPhone! Our system here sounds like yours. I know that they are going to be making some changes to the access as there has been so much clammoring for it. I think Lenn is right that Supra makes money on the planned obsolescence afterall it is a GE company and they do know how to make money!

Best,

Scott

Hi Missy:

We have issues here with agents from other areas not wanting to spend the money to purchase the keypad and then wanting us to go and let them in. Many agents here will only do so for a referral fee. I still drive and let them in as a service to my sellers...

That is VERY COOL! I'll be interested to see how it works. I know you will keep us posted. GBU!

MRIS uses the Sentrilock, and I love it.  I resisted change, along with everybody else, but the Sentrilock works with a smart-card.  Now I carry that, my flash drives and my safe mls key in the same little leather case that previously held my supra electronic lockbox key.

I'm intrigued by how your Board is using the blogosphere as a sounding board.  Very progressive thinking.  I'll be interested to know how things turn out.

We have the sentrilock box I wonder if they will come up with something similar?

As Missy has pointed out, we are testing the new eKEY for BlackBerry solution.  We will be releasing the product in December.  As we get closer to the launch, I thought the ActiverRain community might like some more details on the product.  We have put together a flyer that can be see at the following address:

 http://www.gesecurity.com/GESecurity/Real%20Estate/Subcontent/BlackBerry/Blackberry%20eKEY.pdf

This provides a good overivew of the features, which phones are compatible and how the eKEY fob functions.

Thanks,

Greg

Missy -Thanks for sharing, I am sure many Blackberry user will be interested in the outcome of the test,  and to think your post played a part in this.

Thanks Greg, as you noticed I did not disclose anything you asked us not too and I posted this before the meeting. So far the testing is going good on my BB and lockbox.  Yea.

I am almost positive we have had both treo and blackberry here for quite some time. I hate both phones so I stick to my ekey but realtors who have that phone like it.

Missy, recently I transfer back to the ekey system for our Supra box. My treo both had problems. Not to memtion the added cost.

I can't wait for the BB/supra device to come out here in Pebble Beach.  Our terrain is tough on cell service and the Treo has been the worst performer as a phone, let alone a supra key.  I personally have had a bunch of defective Treos (6) that all gave me the white screen of death as I call it...You know, right when you are ready to open up a house using the Treo, it turns itself off and on 4 or 5 times in a row all the while your clients are standing in front of the house thinking to themselves they need a different agent... One that can actually get them inside the house they want to see! The same thing has happened with many local realtors here including my business partner.  (sorry for the rant) 

I switched to a crackberry and love it.  I can't wait to carry a little adapter thingy instead of a e-key.

Mark, they hope to have it realeased by the first of the year. So far the testing is going well.

To anyone still following this thread:

If you become a NEW blackberry customer, let them know you are a REALTOR, you will get the FOB FREE! If not a new customer, it will be $50.00 to get one.

The free eKEY Fob offer from BlackBerry that Missy mentions can be seen online at the following address:

http://blackberry.letstalk.com/brands/bberry/landing/realestate/welcome.htm

To take advantage of the free fob offer you have to purchase the device and service through this website, because it will not be available in stores.

Greg

I'll be interested to see how this trial goes!  They're switching us from the DisplayKEY to the ActiveKEY next week in Tucson.  It will be nice to have freedom from the cradle!

Hi Missy. I have a Palm Centro, which has the infrared for Supra, although I have not used that feature. I wrote a review of the phone here.