For the last couple of years we have been providing our tech's (only have 2) with iphones. I believe it is a great way to be effective with your time, as long as you are not playing on it. For us- it also allows us as a small buisness to offer it as a perk. Free to use on the weekends, vacation, etc.
One of the advantages to our company is that we can share customer info in seconds. Every customer is listed as a contact and their forklifts are given unit numbers and listed under notes. The address and important contacts are listed. Copy/ paste the notes, then share the contact in a text, and now the mechanic's first call to a new customer has the info he needs. After a repair, he can note the hour meter reading and get the rest of the info for the paperwork from his phone while he is cooling down in his service van. Deck numbers. SS models, etc. get noted and shared between the three of us and the office. Another benefit is taking pictures during a disassembly and repair for reference. Pictures of worn fork heels can be sent to me and when I quote new I can also send a picture to the decision maker. I build data in NoteMaster of wheel brakes by model, engine pictures, etc. That way if my guy is pulling a water pump off a 1404 I can send him a pic of what he is up against.
One of the things I like best is the ability to "document" with pictures a scratched cylinder rod or strapping material wrapped around the pinion shaft seal we recently installed that started leaking again. Just a few if my thoughts on the benefits of a smart phone.