As technology continues to advance, more and more industry mobile applications are becoming available for smartphones and tablets. These mobile apps can be valuable tools for HVACR customers, contractors, distributors, and manufacturers.

Here at The NEWS, we will be spotlighting several of these mobile apps each month. If you have an app you would like included in the App Zone, please email jenanesi@achrnews.com.

Embraco Mobile App for Troubleshooting

Company: Embraco North America

Platform(s): Apple (iPhone, iPad, iPod) and Android devices

Release date: October 2012

Cost: Free

Available for download: Apple iTunes Store, Google Play, and www.embraco.com/apps/trouble-shooting

Description: The Embraco Troubleshooting Mobile App for contractors provides fast and easy help for mechanical and electrical challenges by providing possible origin scenarios to help pinpoint a solution for current system problems. It can be used for both household and commercial refrigeration systems, regardless of the cooling capacity or compressor brand.

User/Developer quote: “Our new mobile app is designed to help contractors troubleshoot mechanical and electrical problems in the refrigeration system in less time while on the job.”

Greg Hutchinson
Sales Manager
Embraco North America

HVAC Check & Charge

Company: Emerson Climate Technologies

Platform(s): Apple (iPhone, iPad, iPod) and Android devices

Release date: December 2012

Cost: Free

Available for download: Apple iTunes Store, Google Play, and www.emersonclimate.com/mobileapps

Description: The HVAC Check & Charge app provides an on-site refrigerant charge calculator for air conditioning applications and allows contractors to easily calculate proper system refrigerant charge for R-22 or R-410A systems. Contractors can choose subcooling, superheat, or airflow and enter the specified system temperatures along with the latent and sensible environmental loads to determine the proper system charge and whether the charge amount needs to be altered based on these conditions.

User/Developer quote: “Our popular suite of free mobile apps is designed to help contractors perform quicker and more accurate service and installation calls. The Check & Charge app is a great tool for busy contractors and a good replacement for those old sliding charge calculators.”

Karl Zellmer
Vice President of Sales
Emerson Climate Technologies Inc.,
Air Conditioning Business

NexTraq Connect Mobile App

Company: NexTraq

Platform(s): Apple (iPhone, iPad, iPod) and Android devices

Release date: November 2012

Cost: Free to download, but must be a NexTraq customer to use the app. There are three packages:

1. Vehicle Package — free; includes vehicle-driver assignment, report a vehicle problem, and odometer recording;

2. Time & Attendance Package — $9.95 per month; includes the above package plus time and attendance; and

3. Standard Connect Package — $24.95 per month; includes all of the above, plus jobs reporting.

Available for download: Apple iTunes Store, Google Play, and www.nextraq.com/landing/nextraqconnect/

Description: The NexTraq Connect mobile app allows field employees to stay connected while increasing efficiency. The fully integrated application allows users to remotely record clock-in, clock-out, and break times; communicate job statuses; view job locations and directions; assign drivers to vehicles; and track vehicle maintenance needs.

User/Developer quote: “We are committed to our customers and their ever-evolving needs. The launch of NexTraq Connect for iPhone, iPad, and Android not only illustrates our ingenuity, but shows our dedication to growth and evolution as a market leader. Now, our clients have access to their fleet operations from anywhere, right on their
smartphones.”

Mike Scarbrough
CEO
NexTraq

Profit Strategies Inc.’s Coolfront

Company: Profit Strategies Inc.

Platform(s): Apple (iPhone, iPad, iPod), Android, laptop, and desktop computers

Release date: September 2012

Cost: $1.29 per work order created, recuperated when repair is paid for

Available for download: www.coolfront.com

Description: The clean user interface allows technicians and customers to understand repair details. Among the features is an intelligent search function that makes repairs easier to find; on-screen signature capturing; real-time syncing of work orders to the office; and the ability to email an invoice directly to a customer upon completion of the order. Coolfront is designed to work online or offline. The intuitive system will also automatically incorporate the small work-order fee into the customer’s calculated price, so the contractor can get approval for the work upfront while fully covering the cost of
the service.

User/Developer quote: “We’ve made it easy for contractors to take advantage of this mobile technology through our zero-net-cost pricing. Allowing our clients to recuperate the cost through our unique pricing system is the key for businesses using Coolfront.”

Paul Baccaro
Vice President of Operations and
Product Development
Profit Strategies

ACHR NEWS Mobile App

Company: BNP Media

Platform(s): Apple (iPhone, iPad, iPod) and Android devices

Release date: January 2013

Cost: Free

Available for download: Apple iTunes Store, Google Play, and www.achrnews.com/apps

Description: If you’re on the job, in the office, or in the classroom, now you can get the latest HVACR industry news on your smartphone or tablet with The ACHR NEWS’ mobile app. All of The NEWS’ most recent feature stories, breaking news stories, commentary, videos, podcasts, and online-only Extra Edition content is available on the handy mobile app. Users can use the app to peruse the latest industry news, listen to podcasts, and share stories with friends on social media. To register for free access to The NEWS website and mobile app, visit www.achrnews.com/newuser.

User/Developer quote: “The NEWS’ app provides an easy and convenient way for contractors to access the industry’s premier source for HVACR content. The app is updated regularly and includes many of our great print features, and more, all available on a smartphone or tablet device.”

Kyle Gargaro
Editor-in-Chief
The NEWS

Publication date: 4/8/2013