The long awaited vox.io mobile app for iPhone is finally here. We’ve been working on it for a really long time as we wanted to make sure it would both work and feel great. Calling, messaging and starting conversations has never been so easy.
If you want to grab it right away feel free to jump over to our dedicated iPhone page, this post can wait.
The app has undergone several iterations and we tried to capture the same magic that makes vox.io great in your browser.
Product design
We thought a lot about how the mobile interaction context is different from the desktop and we’ve figured out the main difference is being able to type fast. In such a setting search does not work as well as on the web, but (not too long) lists work very well.
The second big thing we had in mind is that users expect to perform a task on mobile in under 15 seconds to feel good about the whole experience. We’ve tested every action in vox.io, cleaned up the interface until we got there.
Finally we built a product we believe can set the basis for a series of updates that we will be releasing at a fast pace.
Hybrid approach
Since vox.io is built on web concepts and uses links extensively for profiles, quick calls and group calls we had to take an almost unique hybrid approach in building the vox.io mobile experience. The application is complemented by a mobile web interface that is optimized in terms of size, content and speed.
You can still make calls from the same links that you have been using on the desktop web version of vox.io.
Favorites, Recents, Contacts
A core component of vox.io are people. When you access vox.io on your iPhone for the first time you can easily import your address book. We do our best to filter duplicate entries and clean it up a bit (you can always manage duplicate contacts manually via the desktop web interface).
We made sure you can access any contact easily from three different views.
Favorites are the people that you heart most (or at least contact the most). You can easily add them by tapping the heart shaped icon on each contact.
The Recents tab displays a list of contacts you’ve recently been in touch with.
In the Contacts tab you’ll be able to scroll along all the thousands of contacts you have collected so far.
Both favorite and recent contacts let you call with a single tap, while the main action on the Contacts view will take you to a detailed contact view, where you can call, message, email or send a quick call invite.
Swipe
To let you perform all possible actions on a contact quickly (remember the 15 seconds rule) we implemented a neat swipe gesture. A call, message, email or quick call invite are just a swipe away.
Change your number on the fly
One of the big changes vox.io brings to real-time communication are vox.io profiles that replace phone numbers. While traveling and using different SIM cards for data access the vox.io iPhone app let’s you change your number on the fly, but your vox.io profile link stays the same. No need for long email signatures or chain messages when you switch your number.
Quick Calls, Group Calls
vox.io for iPhone supports both Quick Calls and Group Calls. You can easily invite each of your contacts for a Quick Call straight from the application and they can call you back either from their browser or from their iPhone using the same link.
When the Quick Call or Group Call links are opened on an iPhone the content is adapted and optimized. Calls can easily be started by with a tap on the only big button on screen.
Quick Calls & Group Calls do not require a vox.io account, making it easy to use even for those who do not want to create an additional account before trying the service with a friend that is already on the service.
In the first iteration vox.io for iPhone let’s you join an existing Group Call, while Group Call creation is already in our mobile roadmap.
Pricing
The app is absolutely free. All vox.io to vox.io calls are free. vox.io to phone calls are charged according to our rates. Same applies for short messages sent via the application.
Take the app for a spin and let us know what you think, how we can improve it and what should we remove. We are listening on Twitter and on our Get Satisfaction page.
If you don’t have an iPhone but would still like to try vox.io just sign up.
