by RMLS Communication Department | Dec 6, 2010 | Guest Post, RMLSweb
Guest post by Terry Romel, RMLS™ Help Desk Manager
With the recent release of the new iPad operating system (Version 4.2) some important changes occurred in the way the iPad interacts with RMLSweb.
As you may recall from my last iPad post, RMLSweb works best with Internet Explorer 6+. All of the RMLSweb system functionality is available and fully supported on IE 6+ (although honestly you should be well past IE 6 by now). Obviously the iPad does not use IE as a browser, and that immediately created some challenges when using the iPad with RMLSweb. In fact the challenges were so diverse the decision was made to re-direct the iPad browser (typically Safari) to the RMLS™ mobile site, to ensure the iPad user wouldn’t be tasked with dealing with the challenges. This was not a popular decision with iPad users but was really necessary due to substantial data integrity issues when using RMLSweb.
With this OS update, and based on substantial testing by RMLS™ technical staff, we are confident that some of the core RMLSweb functionality lacking in the first iPad operating system is now working as it should. That is not to say that the entire RMLSweb system works with the iPad, but simply that it is more functional with this operating system update than it was before. As such, it was decided to remove the automatic re-direct to the RMLS™ mobile site and allow the iPad access to logging in to the RMLSweb site. There are still inconsistencies in several areas of RMLSweb, but most Search functions work as expected and most importantly return an accurate set of search results.
Please keep in mind that while we certainly agree that the iPad is a wonderful new tool that fits well in the real estate space and undoubtedly has many other benefits for our Realtor® subscribers, accessing RMLSweb and expecting full functionality is just not yet possible. As we move forward in the evolution of RMLSweb you will see more functionality available through the iPad.
If you have any specific questions about what does and does not work with the iPad and RMLSweb please contact the RMLS™ Help Desk. The RMLS™ Help Desk is available 8AM-7PM Mon-Thursday; 8AM-5PM Friday & 10AM-2PM Saturday. Call 503-872-8002 or 877-256-2169 (toll-free).
by RMLS Communication Department | Aug 18, 2010 | Guest Post, Supra
By Shannon Henry, Customer Service Manager for RMLS™
One of the most common Supra-related questions we’ve received here at RMLS™ over the past few years has been, “When will I be able to use an iPhone as my lockbox key?” Well, we’re pleased to announce that as of today eKEY Basic service is available on the iPhone.
The eKEY software has been designed to update wirelessly, and allows you to not only use your phone as a key to open iBoxes, but also to manage your lockbox inventory right from your iPhone. Supra anticipates that the eKEY professional version, which will include the ability to view showing information and save listing data in the software, will also be available later this year.
A Supra iPhone adapter must also be purchased to add an IR (infrared) port to the iPhone, allowing it to communicate with iBoxes. The iPhone adapter is quite small, and connects via the docking port at the bottom of your phone when you want to open a lockbox. It runs off of your phone’s power, meaning nothing extra to keep charged, and comes with a cover that allows it to hang from a keychain when not in use.
Additional Devices
We ran a quick test in the office today and determined that both the eKEY software and adapter will work on an iPad, as well. However, we don’t recommend trying to use an iPod Touch – although the software will install and the adapter will work, without a data plan you would need to be certain that you’ll have a wireless connection available everywhere you may show a property, or commit to manually updating your key every day.
Check it out
Here are a couple of resources for further reading: eKEY for iPhone Product Page, Quick Start Guide, and User Manual. The eKEY software is available for free download through Apple’s App Store here, and comes complete with a demo mode so that you can try out the software without signing up for the eKEY service.
Ready to make the switch? The iPhone adapters sell for $55 at your local RMLS™ office, where we can also get you set up with an eKEY Basic account.
Other Supra Happenings
In other news, Supra has also recently made some improvements to SupraWEB, their key and lockbox management site. Along with a couple of security upgrades, they have also fixed an issue that caused boxes to sometimes disappear from an agent’s inventory when new boxes were added. And for those of you with Android-based phones who are interested in moving to the eKEY solution, they are currently planning to release eKEY for Android software in late September. We’ll keep you updated as we hear more, and you can also sign up for updates about Android directly from Supra here.
by RMLS Communication Department | Jun 29, 2010 | Guest Post, RMLSweb
Guest Post by Terry Romel
With the recent release of the IPad and the significant adoption by the general masses I thought it appropriate to make you aware of what to expect when using the IPad with RMLSweb.
As I’m sure many of you already know, RMLSweb works best with Internet Explorer 7 and higher. All of the RMLSweb system functionality is available and fully supported on IE 7 and up.
That being said, with the proliferation of new browsers, we frequently get questions at the Help Desk as to why RMLSweb is not fully bi-browser compatible. That question is a complicated one and the entire answer would be much too long to discuss here. Bottom line is that all new modules written for RMLSweb are compatible in many of the new browsers, but some of the existing core functionality (ex. Listing Load) is still in the queue for re-write. (Here’s a list of what parts of RMLSweb currently work in other browsers.)
So, what about the IPad? The native browser on the IPad is a hybrid version of Safari. I say hybrid because it is neither the “full” version nor the IPhone version. What it does share in common with the IPhone version is it presents itself to websites as a “mobile” version of browser. Because of this reality, the IPad is automatically redirected to the RMLSweb Mobile site.
Now there are browsers out there for the IPad that can “spoof” other browser identification strings and as a result take you to the “full” version login page for RMLSweb. They will allow you to log in, but from that point forward all bets are off. One of the most disconcerting behaviors of non-supported browsers is the lack of integrity while performing searches on RMLSweb. Let’s never forget that one of our core responsibilities as a MLS is to provide accurate data to our subscribers.
As a result of the inconsistency of this core function of the RMLSweb system I suggest you proceed with caution regarding the IPad. While it is a wonderful new tool that fits well in the real estate space and undoubtedly has many other benefits for our Realtor® subscribers, accessing RMLSweb is not currently one of them. We are starting to look at the overall functionality of the IPad Safari browser in relation to RMLSweb, but in keeping our eye on the bigger picture it may be some time before you see it fully supported.
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Terry has returned to RMLS™ as the Help Desk Manager after a few years of working with other real estate related companies in the Portland Metro area. We’re happy to have him back!
by RMLS Communication Department | Apr 15, 2010 | Guest Post
The Way It Was: Fair Housing Month Retrospective
By Jo Becker, Education/Outreach Specialist, Fair Housing Council of Oregon
Fair Housing Month, which falls in April, commemorates the anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act . This year it also marks our 20th anniversary of serving Oregon and SW Washington as the Fair Housing Council. April is a good time to reflect on what life was like before these rights were passed and to think about why civil rights activists and policy leaders pushed for their passage.
There was a time in Oregon’s history that it was actually illegal for African Americans and mixed-race individuals to be present in this state. Let’s be clear, slavery wasn’t legal here, but “those people” were not welcome to be here either. There was a time when African-Americans and Asians knew “sundown laws” were common and rushed through jurisdictions to assure they weren’t caught in certain towns after dark and risk being exposed to the threat of whippings by a county official.
There was also a time when Oregon was declared the most discriminatory state north of the Mason-Dixon Line; we boasted thousands of Ku Klux Klan (KKK) members targeting minorities, immigrants and Catholics.
Is housing discrimination still a problem today? Unfortunately, yes! The KKK has largely disappeared. However, other white supremacist groups have not. Cross burnings in our area are rare, yet there have been two reports of cross burnings in just the last couple of years. We have also seen an alarming number of hate crimes and harassment based on religion, national origin, disability and sexual orientation. And, who hasn’t heard about the white supremacist group that recently visited John Day and was looking to purchase real estate there in order to make the town its new training and headquarters location?
Our Fair Housing Hotline also receives more than 3,000 calls annually. We have had instances of housing providers giving false information in order to keep out “certain people.” We’ve recently seen cases where landlords have required applicants to attend church and provide verification of such from their pastors. Not too many years ago there was also a home on the market in Gresham with a sign in the window that read, “Whites Only.” Historically (and reaffirmed by recent, local testing ), equally qualified testers are sometimes quoted different prices or offered different levels of service when the only distinction between them is a protected class status such as race, national origin, familial status, or sexual orientation. All of these instances prove that housing discrimination exists.
Please use this April as an excuse to get educated about Oregon and Washington’s troubled past, and also about civil rights and fair housing movements on the national level. Please learn the reality of the situation today—how far we’ve come and how far we have yet to go. Furthermore, get involved, speak out and make a difference!
Visit http://fhco.org to learn more about fair housing and the FHCO. You can also take a quick Quiz to test your fair housing knowledge and find Easy Ways to Get Involved—each linked to our entry page.
This article brought to you by the Fair Housing Council; a nonprofit serving the state of Oregon and SW Washington. Learn more and/or sign up for our free, periodic newsletter at http://fhco.org.
Qs about your rights and responsibilities under fair housing laws?
Visit http://fhco.org or call 1-800-424-3247 Ext. 2.
Qs about this article? Do you want to schedule an in-office fair housing training program or speaker for corporate or association functions?
Contact Jo Becker at jbecker@FHCO.org or 503-453-4016.
Have property to promote?
Advertise vacancies or for-sales free across the Portland/Vancouver market at: http://housingconnections.org
by RMLS Communication Department | Apr 6, 2010 | Guest Post
Fair Housing History
By Jo Becker, Education/Outreach Specialist, Fair Housing Council of Oregon
In April 1968, shortly after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Congress passed the federal Fair Housing Act to combat housing discrimination. It was the most controversial piece of civil rights legislation and the most difficult to pass. Twenty years later, the Fair Housing Amendments Act followed, further strengthening the law and adding additional protected classes. These federal laws protect everyone from discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, familial status and disability.
The state of Oregon passed similar legislation and has extended it to include protection against discrimination based on marital status, sexual orientation and source of income. Similarly, the state of Washington has extended it to protect marital status, sexual orientation and honorably discharged veterans/military status. Some cities and counties have added additional protections; visit http://fhco.org/pdfs/matrix_ore.pdf or http://fhco.org/pdfs/matrix_wash.pdf for more info.
April marks the anniversary of the enactment of federal fair housing law protections and is celebrated as National Fair Housing Month.
As a former Realtor®, I know that complying with fair housing laws can be challenging. It may seem confusing and frustrating. I’ve heard the analogy of the irritation one can feel waiting for a red light to turn green, late at night, with no other cars in sight. In that moment, you are annoyed. You might ask yourself, “What is the rationale?” or “Why do I have to stop at this light?” But try to imagine what life would be like without those traffic signals or without those rules. Imagine the harm and devastation that can (and often does) occur when we ignore the rules our society has mandated. In those instances, it makes no difference if the act was accidental or unintentional; the harm is done before you even know it.
As an agent, I knew that I could have all good intentions and do everything right and yet one complaint to HUD could threaten my very livelihood. I knew and understood that. Yet, that’s not unique to fair housing. The same threat holds true from a complaint to the real estate agency and, let’s face it, anyone can sue anyone else for anything at any time. Yes, there are frivolous claims and suits, but the laws were enacted for a reason, and that is to address real and intolerable injustices facing our society. I encourage you to find out more so that you can learn the reasons behind the causes and justification for fair housing laws and to help protect yourself in your daily practice. Please visit http://www.fhco.org to learn more.
This article brought to you by the Fair Housing Council; a nonprofit serving the state of Oregon and SW Washington. Learn more and/or sign up for our free, periodic newsletter at http://www.fhco.org.
Questions about your rights and responsibilities under fair housing laws? Visit http://www.fhco.org or call 1-800-424-3247 Ext. 2.
Questions about this article? Do you want to schedule an in-office fair housing training program or speaker for corporate or association functions? Contact Jo Becker at jbecker@FHCO.org or 503-453-4016.
Do you have property to promote? Advertise vacancies or for-sales free across the Portland/Vancouver market at http://www.housingconnections.org
by RMLS Communication Department | Jan 26, 2010 | Guest Post, Tips & Tricks
By John Ayers, RMLS™ Help Desk Manager
Your job takes you many places during the day. I imagine that you are often out and about meeting your clients when and wherever they want to meet. This can lead to some interesting methods to get Internet access in order to look at properties, or fill out an OREF form. This article will hopefully show you some of the methods that you can use to have “Internet anywhere”.
I am going to focus this article on getting Internet on a laptop or netbook. I understand that you can just use a smartphone from any of the cellular carriers to get Internet access, but if you’ve ever tried to look at properties on a phone size screen with a client, you know that a laptop or netbook is really a much better method. Also, while you can access a mobile version of RMLSweb, the full version doesn’t work on a smartphone, and you cannot generate OREF forms either. A smartphone will work in a pinch, but I think an Internet-connected notebook is really the way to go when working with clients.
USB Modems
The first method, and probably the most common, is the USB cellular modem. These have been around for a few years, and are available from all of the major cellular providers. These are basically a cell phone modem that plugs into the USB port of your computer and works with software provided by the cellular carrier to give your computer Internet access anywhere that you can get a cellular signal. The most important thing to remember is that if you are in a location where you don’t get cellular reception with your phone, you also aren’t going to get cellular reception with one of these modems. Of course the data plan costs all vary from provider to provider, but they usually run anywhere from $50-$99/month, depending on how much you intend to download. Most plans allow for 3-5GB per month of data, which should be fine for most users who are just going to be emailing and browsing RMLSweb, but if you ever plan on streaming a Netflix movie while waiting for a client, you may end up paying overage charges that are usually $.10-$.25/MB – that can add up very quickly!
WiMax
Another somewhat new method is “WiMax” service from both Clear and Comcast. This service is similar to cellular Internet in that it still uses cellular-like towers 
to transmit and receive signals, but its benefit is much greater speed. WiMax speeds are advertised at 3-6Mb/second with bursts of up to 10Mb/sec. (3G Cellular is advertised at 1-2.5Mb/sec, with newer “3.5G” service peaking up to 4-5Mb/sec under ideal conditions). The drawback is that the WiMax signal only works in the greater Portland Metro area. Once you travel 20-30 miles outside of Portland there is no more WiMax service, whereas there is usually some kind of cellular service (3G or EDGE) in most locations across the country. If you are looking for one account that you can use both at home and on the go around town, and you rarely travel outside of Portland, then WiMax may be the service for you.
Cell Phone Tethering
Another option that many people don’t consider is cell phone tethering. This is probably one of the oldest methods to get an Internet connection on your laptop, as long as you have a phone that is capable of it. Usually it is only smartphones that are able to be tethered to your laptop, but more and more phones nowadays are tether capable. Basically, this is done by plugging your cell phone into a USB cable connected to your laptop, and then using software provided by your cellular provider to use the data service capability of your phone as a modem. Because this uses the cellular networks like a USB modem, you will be able to get Internet anywhere you can get a decent cell signal. Most carriers charge extra fees for tethering your cell phone, so it usually doesn’t end up being any cheaper than a USB modem from your carrier. I know that you constantly need to accept and make calls, so one Caveat to remember is that if your phone is plugged into your computer as a modem, it may be more difficult to talk on it.
Netbooks
I am also seeing new netbook computers now with Cellular 3G and WiMax receivers being built right into them, so there is no need for a USB modem to plug in (and eventually break or lose). These new netbooks are a cross between a smart phone and a full sized laptop, with many c
onnection options built in. All the major computer manufacturers are making these now, such as HP, Dell, and Lenovo. A very popular model which has an AT&T 3G modem built in, is the Nokia Booklet 3G. It is made out of a solid piece of aluminum, similar to the Apple Macbooks, fixing a major complaint of most netbooks, which is that they feel cheap and poorly built. If you haven’t heard about these, definitely check them out!
Free WiFi
I won’t spend much time on the final method because most everyone knows about it already and that is free WiFi provided by coffee shops, restaurants, etc. It seems that this is becoming more and more preval
ent these days, with both Barnes & Noble and McDonald’s recently announcing free WiFi. I probably don’t need to tell you the major drawback of this approach though, as most restaurants and coffee shops can be crowded and loud, which makes them not very conducive to hosting a listing presentation. Can you see yourself hosting a listing meeting in a plastic yellow chair with screaming kids running circles around you? Doesn’t sound like an efficient business meeting to me.
So, I hope this has been informative and I urge you to check out the options provided by your favorite cellular carrier, as well as Clear and Comcast. Both AT&T and Verizon are currently fighting a price war, with both companies recently dropping the price of their unlimited data plans. Between that and the outside pressure they are getting from WiMax, now is a great time to be looking for affordable ways to access the Internet anywhere!
Please help your fellow Realtors® by letting us know what methods you are currently using for Internet anywhere in the comments! How is it working for you? What are the pros? What are the cons? Have you ever hosted a listing presentation in a Starbucks or a McDonalds? Tell us about it!
John Ayers is the RMLS™ Help Desk Manager and an avid connoisseur of technology.
