Rauch can even download his schedule into his Microsoft Timex DataLink watch. It alerts him half an hour before a scheduled event. Because these light organizers fit in a pocket, they are convenient to carry around a jobsite. Despite their small size, they can hold huge amounts of information and are excellent for retrieving and sending email. However, their limitations make them suitable as supporting devices for more powerful computers only.
Alphanumeric pagers are a cheap, swift way to send a typed message to onsite staff.
Messages can be sent to one person or many on multiple jobsites simultaneously Many contractors have replaced traditional pagers with these alphanumeric ones because they are not much more expensive and should be able to integrate with office computers' software. Dave Eatherton of Denver-based Eatherton Masonry has also switched over to alphanumeric pagers. He has given one to each lead man. They have call waiting, caller ID, conference calling, voicemail, and we have used them over a 250-mile distance. His radio models hold a charge for 12 hours, but newer models hold up to 26 hours of charge, depending on battery size.