CONTACTS 

SUBJECTS
Correlation to accepted practice and
Automation Trends
Contact Management
Contacts Data Base
Document Log

0807 -    ..
0808 - General
0809 -
080901 - This is an analyse the article at ref OF 1, on
080902 -
080903 -                        Contact Management
080904 -
080905 - It shows trends in the evolution of automation to improve management
080906 - productivity, although it appears directed at narror field of "people"
080907 - interaction, primarily related to sales.
080908 -
080909 -    Why Just Contacts??
080910 -
080911 -    A question that seems to arise is that defining a class of "Contact
080912 -    Management" suggests that in an organiztion there will be programs
080913 -    for managing other areas of knowledge and ideas not centered on
080914 -    "contacts", so how do these various programs interact?  What kind
080915 -    of program helps the CEO, the vice president, research engineer and
080916 -    scientist, accountant, journalist, home maker, doctor, and contrac-
080917 -    tor?
080918 -
080919 -          It is the integration of time, information and people, and
080920 -          the ability to convert "information" into "knowledge" and
080921 -          "ideas."
080922 -
080923 -
080924 -
080925 - Ease of Use & Features
080926 -
080927 - The ability to qickly grasp the screen and to apply program function-
080928 - ality seem to be dominate evaluation criteria.  Functionality comes
080929 - after these.
080930 -
080931 -
080932 - Complete list of features evaluated is at ref OF 4 line 1942.
080933 -
080934 -
0810 -
0811 -
0812 - SDS Correlation to Market Needs and Features
0813 -
081301 - Standard Scenario
081302 -
081303 - The explanation at ref OF 4 line 345, of using a contact manager to
081304 - look up activity in real time in order respond to a telephone call or
081305 - meeting, is one of the main ways SDS is applied.  This shows how SDS
081306 - correlates to existing market needs, as stated in the SDS & POIMS
081307 - scope statement, ref OF 2 line 148.  Similarly, the author notes:
081308 -
081309 -    In fact, for many users, the contact manager serves as a base of
081310 -    operations-- the one application they run all day, ref OF 4 line
081311 -    381.
081312 -
081313 -
081314 -
081315 - Flexible, Fast Reporting
081316 -
081317 - The author's view that Contact Managers provide stronger reporting
081318 - capability than do PIM programs, ref OF 4 line 363), indicates the
081319 - advantages of SDS melding these technologies into a stronger capabili-
081320 - ty, called POIMS.
081321 -
081322 -
081323 -
081324 - Minimizing Data Entry
081325 -
081326 - The authors find the following features of SDS helpful in Contact
081327 - Mangers, per ref OF 4 line 384:
081328 -
081329 -     Contact managers make manual data entry as easy as possible. Some
081330 -     offer editable "pick lists" of commonly used responses ("sent
081331 -     quotation" or "returned call, left message," for example).
081332 -
081333 -          SDS permits selecting reports without keying in anything,
081334 -          and offers extensive point and pick capability to avoid data
081335 -          entry errors.
081336 -
081337 -
081338 -     Most let you establish field defaults, so you can copy all or part
081339 -     of an existing record and edit only the fields that differ.
081340 -
081341 -          SDS applies this idea to information management by using the
081342 -          prior record to make a follow up task.
081343 -
081344 -
081345 -
081346 -
081347 -
0814 -
0815 -
0816 - Definition
0817 -
081701 - The authors are unable to set out a clear distinction between Contact
081702 - Management and PIM software, per ref OF 4 line 44.  Later PIMS are
081703 - said to
081704 -
081705 -     ...focus on a loosely structured organization of time and
081706 -     projects. Contact managers, by contrast, tend to use more heavily
081707 -     structured databases to record contact information and histories.
081708 -     Further, these complex database and search capabilities let
081709 -     contact managers massage data in ways most PIM users can only
081710 -     dream about. (see ref OF 4 line 363)
081711 -
081712 -
081713 - It appears Contact Managers can be classified within Groupware, if
081714 - they produce a database that is accessible
081715 -
081716 -
081717 - The author sets out 4 primary elements of Contact Management software,
081718 - ref OF 4 line 118.
081719 -
081720 -                  contact database
081721 -                  scheduling
081722 -                  correspondence
081723 -                  extensibility
081724 -                  telemarketing script support, ref OF 4 line 178.
081725 -
081726 -
081727 - Contact Database
081728 -
081729 - The main features of this element are:
081730 -
081731 -      1.  Importing records from another CM program in ascii text, ref
081732 -          OF 4 line 123.
081733 -
081734 -      2.  Assemble records in catagories, e.g. geography, ref OF 4 line
081735 -          128.
081736 -
081737 -      3.  Screen design readable and still display a lot of data, ref
081738 -          OF 4 line 134.
081739 -
081740 -      4.  Contact records should include, ref OF 4 line 139:
081741 -
081742 -          a.  Company name
081743 -
081744 -          b.  Contact name
081745 -
081746 -          c.  Company address
081747 -
081748 -          d.  Multiple phone numbers
081749 -
081750 -          e.  Customizability - so users can define fields to store
081751 -              information.
081752 -
081753 -          f.  History of contact interaction, per ref OF 4 line 175:
081754 -
081755 -              1.  Automatically recording each:
081756 -
081757 -                  a.  Phone call
081758 -                  b.  Meeting
081759 -                  c.  Correspondence
081760 -
081761 -              2.  Permit easily adding detailed explanations of events.
081762 -
081763 -
081764 -
081765 -
081766 -      5.  Data Entry ref OF 4 line 146:
081767 -
081768 -          a.  Starting new records
081769 -
081770 -          b.  Using data from one record to enter into another where
081771 -              information is the same.
081772 -
081773 -          c.  Procedures to delete records.
081774 -
081775 -          d.  Setting search specifications
081776 -
081777 -              This appears to be generally difficult, because users
081778 -              must learn how to apply program capability, per authors
081779 -              comment at ref OF 4 line 302:
081780 -
081781 -                 ACT! for Windows, although excruciatingly slow, has a
081782 -                 very sophisticated function called Smart-Query, which
081783 -                 walks the user through the search setup.
081784 -
081785 -                 Maximizer for Windows requires multiple steps. This is
081786 -                 more time-consuming, but it might be somewhat easier
081787 -                 for users not up on their Boolean syntax.
081788 -
081789 -      6.  Search capability
081790 -
081791 -          a.  How many fields are indexed for instantaneous retrieval
081792 -              ref OF 4 line 154.
081793 -
081794 -          b.  Complex Boolean selection across multiple fields.
081795 -
081796 -          c.  Speed of retrieval, ref OF 4 line 215.
081797 -
081798 -              1.  Fields are indexed for fast lookup:
081799 -
081800 -                  a.  Company name
081801 -                  b.  Contact name
081802 -                  c.  City
081803 -                  d.  State
081804 -                  e.  Zip code
081805 -                  f.  Phone number
081806 -
081807 -                  Only a few commercial products permit index user
081808 -                  defined fields, ref OF 4 line 271.
081809 -
081810 -                  ZIP Code Popular Selection Field
081811 -
081812 -                  Many more programs search on ZIP code than on city or
081813 -                  state. Knowing a ZIP code can be quite useful when
081814 -                  defining sales regions, because all ZIP codes
081815 -                  starting with the same two or three numbers are
081816 -                  likely to represent proximate areas. But since you're
081817 -                  not likely to know hundreds of ZIP codes by heart,
081818 -                  indexing ZIP code and not city or state seems
081819 -                  counterproductive, ref OF 4 line 282.
081820 -
081821 -              2.  Improving speed of retrieval through indexing of more
081822 -                  fields slows the process of adding or deleting
081823 -                  records, because the indexes have to be updated, ref
081824 -                  OF 4 line 224.
081825 -
081826 -              3.  Searching 2000 record data base should retrieve a
081827 -                  single record meeting specified criteria for indexed
081828 -                  fields, in less than 1 second, ref OF 4 line 250.
081829 -
081830 -              4.  Searching 2000 records on non-indexed fields can
081831 -                  take from about 3 seconds, to over 3 minute.  ACT!
081832 -                  for Windows required the 3 minute selection time,
081833 -                  per ref OF 4 line 261.
081834 -
081835 -              5.  Selection specification standards, ref OF 4 line 295
081836 -
081837 -                  a.  state = Monatan AND status = attorney
081838 -                  b.  state = Monatan AND status = supplier or reseller
081839 -
081840 -          d.  Data hunt is ability to search across fields, such as a
081841 -              straight keyword search, ref OF 4 line 320.
081842 -
081843 -
081844 -      7.  Reporting in printed formats, ref OF 4 line 160.
081845 -
081846 -          a.  Calendar
081847 -          b.  Phone directory
081848 -          c.  Past & Future activity report
081849 -          d.  Full Contact record
081850 -          e.  Mailing labels
081851 -
081852 -
081853 -
081854 -
081855 - Scheduling
081856 -
081857 - The authors evaluate the ability to schedule:
081858 -
081859 -          1.  Meetings,
081860 -          2.  Tasks,
081861 -          3.  Phone calls
081862 -
081863 -    ...and tie them to one or more contact records, ref OF 4 line 169.
081864 -
081865 -
081866 - The author's discussion of "calendar systems" as distinct from
081867 - scheduling is not clear.  In any event criteria included, ref OF 4
081868 - line 170:
081869 -
081870 -          1.  Ease of data entry,
081871 -          2.  Clarity of appointment displays, and
081872 -          3.  Ability to resolve conflicts.
081873 -
081874 -
081875 -
081876 -
081877 - Correspondence
081878 -
081879 - This is covered at ref OF 4 line 180:
081880 -
081881 -                        Written correspondence
081882 -                        Fax
081883 -                        E-Mail
081884 -                        Spelling check
081885 -                        Mail merge form letters
081886 -                        Automatic addressing, ref OF 4 line 190.
081887 -                        Logging mail to contact record
081888 -
081889 - Wordprocessing considerations include ease of use and range of
081890 - features, and links to external wordprocessing programs, ref OF 4 line
081891 - 185.
081892 -
081893 -
081894 -
081895 - Extensibility
081896 -
081897 - Author uses this term to mean ability to operate through a LAN or
081898 - remotely, via a laptop ora notebook, ref OF 4 line 191.
081899 - Considerations include:
081900 -
081901 -                    database integrity (record locking)
081902 -                    data security (privacy).
081903 -
081904 -
081905 -
081906 -
081907 -
081908 -
081909 -
0820 -
0821 -
0822 - Editor's Choice
0823 -
082301 -
082302 -
082303 -
082304 -
082305 -
082306 -
0824 -

SUBJECTS
SDS Marketing, Competition, Act

0904 - General
0905 -
090501 - Ref OF 4 line 489 reviews ACT!, which is also described at ref OF 4
090502 - line 82 under "Editor's Choice.
090503 -
090504 -
090505 -
090506 -
0906 -

SUBJECTS
SDS Marketing, Competition
Action+Plus, 931117

1005 - General
1006 -
100601 - Ref OF 4 line 636 reviews Action+Plus.
100602 -
100603 -     Priced at $495
100604 -
100605 -     Classified as:  Groupware
100606 -
100607 -     Special Features
100608 -
100609 -     Invoicing & inventory systems, ref OF 4 line 662.
100610 -
100611 -

SUBJECTS
SDS Marketing, Competition
Big File Drawer, 931117

1105 - General
1106 -
110601 - Ref OF 4 line 737 reviews Big File Drawer.
110602 -
110603 -     Priced at $395
110604 -
110605 -
110606 -
110607 -

SUBJECTS
SDS Marketing, Competition
Biz*Base Gold, 931117

1205 - General
1206 -
120601 - Ref OF 4 line 839 reviews Biz*Base Gold.
120602 -
120603 -     Priced at $295
120604 -
120605 -
120606 -
120607 -

SUBJECTS
SDS Marketing, Competition
Commence, 921123

1305 - General
1306 -
130601 - Ref OF 4 line 933 reviews Commence.
130602 -
130603 -     Priced at $395
130604 -
130605 -     Regarded as more of a PIM, but has all features of a contact
130606 -     manager.
130607 -
130608 -
130609 -
130610 -

SUBJECTS
SDS Marketing, Competition
Contact Plus Professional, 931117

1405 - General
1406 -
140601 - Ref OF 4 line 1030 reviews Contact Plus Professional.
140602 -
140603 -     Priced at $295
140604 -
140605 -
140606 -
140607 -
140608 -
140609 -

SUBJECTS
SDS Marketing, Competition
GoldMine, 931117

1505 - General
1506 -
150601 - Ref OF 4 line 1123 reviews Contact Plus Professional.
150602 -
150603 -     Priced at $295
150604 -
150605 -
150606 - This is the Editor's Choice, rated ahead of ACT!, per ref OF 4 line
150607 - 53.
150608 -
150609 -
150610 -
150611 -
150612 -

SUBJECTS
SDS Marketing, Competition
In-Control, 931117

1605 - General
1606 -
160601 - Ref OF 4 line 1217 reviews In-Control.
160602 -
160603 -     Priced at $99
160604 -
160605 -
1607 -

SUBJECTS
SDS Marketing, Competition
Instant Office, 931117

1705 - General
1706 -
170601 - Ref OF 4 line 1317 reviews Instant Office.
170602 -
170603 -     Priced at $395
170604 -
170605 -
170606 -
1707 -

SUBJECTS
SDS Marketing, Competition
Mazimizer, 931117

1805 - General
1806 -
180601 - Ref OF 4 line 1416 reviews Maximizer.
180602 -
180603 -     Priced at $249.
180604 -
180605 -
180606 -
1807 -

SUBJECTS
SDS Marketing, Competition
PowerLeads, 931117

1905 - General
1906 -
190601 - Ref OF 4 line 1542 reviews PowerLeads.
190602 -
190603 -     Priced at $295.
190604 -
190605 -
190606 -
1907 -

SUBJECTS
SDS Marketing, Competition
SmartOffice, 931117

2005 - General
2006 -
200601 - Ref OF 4 line 1651 reviews SmartOffice.
200602 -
200603 -     Priced at $595.
200604 -
200605 -
200606 -     Wordprocessor can mimic command structure of popular
200607 -     wordprocessors, including Microsoft Word, Wordperfect and
200608 -     Wordstar.
200609 -
200610 -
200611 -
2007 -

SUBJECTS
SDS Marketing, Competition
SuperOffice, 931117

2105 - General
2106 -
210601 - Ref OF 4 line 1745 reviews SuperOffice.
210602 -
210603 -     Priced at $395.
210604 -
210605 -
210606 -
210607 -
2107 -

SUBJECTS
SDS Marketing, Competition
SuperTime, 931117

2205 - General
2206 -
220601 - Ref OF 4 line 1844 reviews SuperTime.
220602 -
220603 -     Priced at $295.
220604 -
220605 -     Classified as:  Groupware
220606 -
220607 -
220608 -
220609 -
220610 -
2207 -