So, I'm getting so close to banking I can taste it. Not saying it for any other reason than that I'm excited about it. But I keep hearing things about Blackberry.
Are analysts issued Blackberry's? Are there no other options? Furthest thing ever from a dealbreaker, because I'd use a 90's cellphone on a hip holster if I had to.
Is this going to change anytime soon? You bankers out there, do you hate it, or does it even matter?
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Some places converting to mobile apps, easier, cheaper, and quicker to replace.
That having been said, still lots of blackberrys around :)
Yes, blackberrys everywhere. Lots of people also use the "Good" app so they don't have to carry two phones. Personally have a curve, lots of people have the bold as well. Some people were stupid and picked a torch which is a POS.
I'm familiar with the Good app in my industry. Does everyone in finance hate it as much as we do in accounting?
Got the go ahead to switch to iPhones a few months ago. Couldn't be happier to lose the blackberry.
Good to hear! What about android? I switched a while back and can't even see on the tiny iphone screen anymore.
because 0.5" makes something clear to illegible?
Closer to a full inch. I was mostly kidding, but I really do enjoy the extra space.
arent like all bb analysts using them?
We use Droids and Iphones.
So from have gleaned here it's basically on a bank by bank basis that bankers use blackberry's or something else?
(Nasty alliteration, only partially intentional.)
vast majority of the banks still use BB's other than a couple of the boutiques (BX M&A and Qatalyst off the top of my mind).
My current firm is 'bring your own device' with your bill being picked up. Fuck Blackberries, I hated the stupid "pearl" or whatever they called the trackball.
This is how public accounting works, but they don't pick up your whole bill. You have to estimate the percentage of work use and you can only expense that portion up to a limit.
This must be firm by firm. I know PwC picks up the whole tab
BYOD
Policies vary greatly from firm to firm. Some places will pay for a portion of your cell phone bill and give you a separate blackberry. Some are BYOD and pay for everything, some just a portion. Others will let you have a limited array of devices and lock them down greatly.
There is also a personal decision to be made. Do you want your firm monitoring your text messages and web browsing on your phone? Do you want the ability to not take your blackberry with you? Obviously this isn't a big issue for analysts as you can't not have it with you most of the time.
As a more senior banker, I'm happy to have my separate blackberry that basically is a phone book, calendar, and email device (no voice plan, so it's really like having an old school bberry). I can leave my bberry behind when I'm not working on stuff that will need an immediate response and rely on my cellphone if someone really needs to get a hold of me. Generally, my group head is low key and I don't want to hear from my supporting analysts late at night while at a bar on some stupid question or latest turn of a document if I don't need to.
TLDR: Lots of bberrys out there, don't worry about it
Thanks PowerMonkey. Great input!
We have bb's as standard, but you can also byod and have Good. I use both and find bb faster for cracking out emails without autocorrect screwing things up. BB interface also works better for me than my fat fingers fixing up emails.
My bank plans to phase out bb's in the next 2 years and run only byod. They are planning something similar on laptops - byod + cloud.
I suspect my issues are due to my age. I remember learning fps keyboard only on Doom and struggling to make the shift to mouse controls on Quake. I got there eventually.
Most are starting to phase BBs out (as they should) and are using good or BYOD
BlackBerry won't go away anytime soon. By soon I mean for the next 1-2 years. Hate carrying around two or more phones... My previous firm, however, let me use BlackBerry for personal use even when I'm on leave on a beach in South France and I racked up $500+ bill (had to come up with an excuse), but my current firm disabled many features on my BlackBerry, so it's totally useless.
the stuff you guys worry about lol
op why change your name?
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