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Mobile Email Still Sucks, Here's Why

Posted on May 7, 2009 by Jeremy Toeman

I’ve written in the past regarding why I gave up on mobile email, and have recently entered quite a few entertaining discussions on the topic. In a nutshell, I feel the “mobile email lifestyle” is generally a bad one, typically causing much higher stress levels in people.

Now before everyone reading this on a BlackBerry jumps down my throat, there certainly are some times when mobile email is useful, helpful, and productive. Here’s the list:

  • Sitting at your gate/otherwise waiting for a flight (but not, of course, once they’ve told you to turn off your phone, because as of that point you are just being a jerk by leaving it on.  yup, that’s right, a big jerk)
  • Waiting for some big deal to close (sorta – you really could do this with the phone, but I’m sure there are times when it would be necessary to have the email interaction)
  • Sitting at dinner with really close friends/family

I’m sure there’s a few more exceptions that I’m not thinking of, and I’m okay with that.  For the most part, I see people with BlackBerries and iPhones checking email all.  the.  time. Sure it’s annoying to those of us trying to spend any time with these people, but bad manners are probably just the most superficial of issues.

Constantly “on call”
When you sport a mobile email device, and reply to emails at all hours of the day, night, weekend, etc, you effectively say to your coworkers “I’m always available.”  And by being always available, it becomes harder and harder for you to decide not to be available.  Which leads to bosses/clients/peers sending in emails, expecting near-instant turnaround.  Which effectively means you can get in trouble just by not checking email during dinner.  Personally, I don’t like the idea that “important work stuff” happens at all hours – it doesn’t. And if you aren’t a doctor, firefighter, cop, or other person whose work truly happens at all hours, trust me, you can skip email tonight.

Less responsive to non-essential emails
BlackBerry people love to talk about how easily they can check email, anytime, anywhere.  But they tend to do a much worse job at following through with non-essential emails.  And, since those emails got marked as read right away, they tend to fall to the bottom of the priority list when the user actually gets to a computer.  This is all compounded by the aforementioned issue that we know you read the emails we sent!  Let’s be totally clear here: if you have a BlackBerry or iPhone, we know you get *all* email, and we know you check it right away.  Lost emails are BS, it’s readily apparent that you are actively choosing not to respond to us.

Introduce work time during personal time
It’s not just that you are checking emails while we’re eating dinner, the distraction factor is just a part of it.  It’s that those emails have impact on you and your mood.  And let’s face it, if you are checking emails all evening long, odds are pretty good something will tumble into the inbox that will cause you more stress.  So much for our happy evening, as you are now preoccupied with your work problem.  There’s obviously the counterpoint here about getting some great news, like closing a deal, etc, but those are few and far between (and are much more fun on the phone anyway).  Nothing like finishing up a meal with Mr Grumpypants who just found out some deal isn’t going to close.

Did I mention the bad manners?
I get that we live in the rapid-fire, constant interruptive, crazy overly connected world.  But there is no debate that pulling out a gadget and reading an email while you are engaged in conversation is rude.  Always.  Even if there’s a lull in the chat, it’s not an excuse.  Hang on a sec.

Sorry, I was checking email on my phone while you were waiting for me to finish typing.  Get the point?

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Posted in General | Tags: blackberry, crackberry, iphone, mobile email | 5 Comments
« They don't call it an echochamber for nuthin'
Non-tech interjection post: Going Crazy About Societal Hypocrisy »

5 thoughts on “Mobile Email Still Sucks, Here's Why”

  1. Ricky Cadden says:
    May 7, 2009 at 7:12 pm

    I think I agree with most of this, even though I’m also mostly guilty of it. Specifically the part where an email or other notification can alter your mood – it’s happened tons of times.

    However, one thing that I’ve found to be awesome is the ability to designate ‘dark hours’. During the day, I get my email pushed, so I get instant notification. I typically don’t actually act on it, but I at least know it’s there. However, when I’m done working for the day (sometimes at 5p, sometimes later), I actually turn my computer speakers off (I keep IM running, but that’s another issue), and my phone automatically stops checking for email at 7p every day, automatically. It picks back up at 6a, so that when I wake up, it’s there waiting for me.

    Mobile email, like any other part of work, simply needs to be managed right in line with your work day.

    Reply
  2. DaveZatz says:
    May 8, 2009 at 3:53 am

    There’s a few distinct issues here… Ricky brought up the critical element that connects them: in that it’s about time management and setting boundaries when the email is work related. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, just used (like any other tool) on your terms. And you can substitute ‘mobile email’ with ‘mobile twitter’ or ‘text messages’ here.

    Regarding the rudeness factor, depends on your audience/compatriots. Melissa and I will periodically take a conversation break during dinner – I check my iPhone, she checks her Blackberry. VERY romantic. 😉

    I have push turned off by the way, so I’m not constantly looking down at my phone every time it beeps or buzzes (it also saves battery life) – new mail comes in, only when I manually initiate it.

    As a blogger, I do expect relatively quick response from your team – and I expect all hands on deck (im, email, phone availability) when a press release hits. I work random/odd hours and squeeze blogging into my free time (which I don’t have much of anymore). So when I email on Pogo it probably means I’ve got a few minutes to write at that very moment. If the response takes a few days to work its way back to me, chances are my window has closed and interest may have waned. :/

    Reply
  3. DaveZatz says:
    May 8, 2009 at 3:55 am

    Again in reference to Ricky, my productivity has gone up by killing IM. I’ve gone from running it nearly every waking hour to a few minutes every other day. Though any gains have been offset by the time I invest in Twitter. You can rearrange electrons all day, but I guess you can’t destroy them.

    Reply
  4. bounderboy says:
    May 9, 2009 at 11:48 am

    Dang talk about irony – was about to reply to this, and my phone (blackberry) rang – just wife calling noticed an email on my phone and had to reply to it – client having problems with project … now in a bad mood…

    Mood swings is definately something I identify with – had an email arrive Friday evening and its ruined my weekend before now.. cause you know Sh1t on Monday morning!

    Reply
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About

Jeremy Toeman is a seasoned Product leader with over 20 years experience in the convergence of digital media, mobile entertainment, social entertainment, smart TV and consumer technology. Prior ventures and projects include CNET, Viggle/Dijit/Nextguide, Sling Media, VUDU, Clicker, DivX, Rovi, Mediabolic, Boxee, and many other consumer technology companies. This blog represents his personal opinion and outlook on things.

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