iPad and Small Business May Be Perfect Match

Eric Loyd, president and CTO of the technology consulting company Bitnetix in Rochester, N.Y., uses his iPad for almost all his daily tasks, from selling services and updating the company website to managing the accounts and payroll. As long as he has Wi-Fi or cellular coverage, he could literally run his business from anywhere in the world.

"At this point, I can't imagine professional life without the iPad," he says. "I especially love the look on clients' faces when I go into their offices, say 'Let's start a conference call with some of our engineers,' throw the iPad on the table and use it as a conference room phone. I've joined engineers in three states to a client so we can discuss a problem on the spot. Then, while the call is progressing, I can log into a server, making the proposed changes, and test them out, all from the iPad."

Peter Argondizzo, founder and managing director of the translation services firm Argo Translation, based in Glenview, Ill., has become such a believer in the iPad that he bought them for all eight of the company's employees. Among the apps that he's found relevant for his business are the file-sharing programs Box and Dropbox; PaperDesk, for taking notes during meetings; Huddle, for group collaborations; TweetDeck, to monitor Twitter feeds; and GoToMeeting for online meetings. At trade shows, he connects the iPad to a projector for presentations.

"We really like the ability to hook into our exchange server for email and calendaring meetings on the go," Argondizzo says. "It helps with productivity and also allows our people to quickly check email and projects without actually hauling out a laptop."

While the iPad may be a luxury item for consumers, it can be a good buy for certain businesses. Many employees who use laptops could perform almost all the same functions from an iPad, which costs half the price.

One final bonus to the iPad? The cool factor that this relatively new technology brings. Many customers and clients haven't yet tried one, and showing off its features can turn into a bonding experience. A business that brands itself as cutting-edge or stylish will only enhance that image if iPads are its gadget of choice.

As iPads become more ubiquitous, that cool factor will fade. But as long as its apps continue to meet the needs of small businesses, Apple's latest hit product will have a place on small-business owners' desks.

>To submit a news tip, email: [e-mail].

RELATED STORIES:

>>No Need for Jitters Over Twitter

>>Pursuit of Paperless Office Needs Good System

>>Employees, Customers Are Not Your 'Friends'

Follow TheStreet.com on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

>To order reprints of this article, click here: Reprints