The iPhone is a great deal more than the most recent in-thing. If you know how to use it to it's potential it's an outstanding asset for a service professional on the road.

Right out of the box your iPhone is a powerful tool, but to really get the most of it there are a number of apps designed to help you run your practice on the move. Here are some of my favorites.

1. Trip Tracker - A fully automated application that keeps track of your travel itineraries with minimal set-up. All you have to do is register your frequent flier and hotel rewards numbers on the site and your complete itinerary will automatically be displayed in the program. Status and changes are updated via push notifications.

2. GateMaps - The perfect application for quick transfers. The application currently supports only five major hubs: Atlanta (ATL), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), John F. Kennedy (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), and Miami International (MIA). As the app is developed more airports will be added.

3. Skype - An excellent program for international travelers who want to save their pennies abroad. There's no charge for placing calls via skype over wifi. If you prefer, the mobile version of Skype also includes their text feature. Unfortunately skype has recently started charging for using skype over cellular connections.

4. Yelp - Yelp is very handy when you're out of town. It provides user reviews for restaurants, bars, and shops making it a whole lot easier to find a good, nearby place to eat.

5. Unit Conversion - This handy app is a must for the international traveler. It provides up-to-date currency conversions on demand.

6. Taxi Magic - This is my personal favorite. You push a button and a cab magically appears. All you need to do is enter your pick-up location and the app does the rest. You don't even need to make a phone call. Taxi Magic coordinates with the local taxi dispatch services to find the closest to your location. You can even monitor the cab's progress via GPS. This application is available in most major cities in the United States.

7. Bump - A utility that allows you to transfer contact information, pictures, and notes with other iPhone users quickly and easily by holding the phones next to each other. No more fumbling for business cards or worrying about forgetting your pen.

8. Expensify - I love this one. Expensify is simple and brilliant. All it does is track your receipts for you, but it spares you the hassle of lugging around pockets full of loose scrap. It compiles your expenses as you go and packages them up into a report that's IRS-friendly. Data entry? Now would I do that to you? All you need to do is take a snapshot of the receipt.

9. HopStop - This app turns your iPhone into a public-transportation-sensitive GPS of sorts. By inputting your start and end location, your route will be calculated, taking into account buses, trains, transfers, and turns, and always getting you there as quickly as possible.

10. World Customs and Cultures - Did you know that in Japan it's considered rude to turn down a drink, even if your glass is full? Down that sucker and hold your glass out for a refill or run the risk of seriously pissing off your host! The World Customs and Cultures app will help you bridge cultural gaps and avoid the many pitfalls of international business negotiations.

Business travel can be a pain, but with an iPhone and a few well chosen programs you'll make your business trips a lot less difficult - and maybe even fun!