There may be no form of communication that has received a worse beating over the past few years than the humble voice call. Once both the default and premium way to connect to other people, voice calls have steadily declined in popularity in comparison with other forms of messaging. Email, texts, instant messaging, online chat, Web forums, anonymous photo sharing, permanent photo sharing, impermanent photo sharing and emoji have all been working together to bring down the phone call. But the same digital revolution that let you send your mom and dad cat pictures may now bring you back to calling them – or at least, someone or anyone.
WhatsApp, Doc? Cutting the Cord from Text in Mobile Messaging
WhatsApp is a text messaging service that allows users to send messages without going through SMS systems. It is ideal for users who do not have easy access to text messaging through their phones, but who would still like to stay in touch with their friends. Yet, there is another side of the WhatsApp service that is even more useful and already has competition within its new space.
“Users want new types of messaging.”
Most people use WhatsApp because of its ability to skirt around the fees associated with SMS messaging, which has lead to rapid growth within parts of the world that have developing mobile networks, like India. However, a function not commonly mentioned for users of WhatsApp is the ability to send each other small, pre-recorded voice messages. These let users simply tap a button to hear a message, and can be stored sequentially. This way, the program offers the archivability and convenience of text messaging with the warm vocal tones associated with phone calls.
Another major new app, Cord, allows the same kind of interaction. In fact, Cord is built around one major idea: that people would like to talk the way they text. The user interface is entirely built around having conversations where you can send a short message, or series of short messages, outlining a certain thought. The person at the other end of the conversation can then respond when they want to, leaving out much of the waiting that normally plagues phone calls. What both of these programs point to is customer dissatisfaction with current ways of handling calls, and a growing need to have multiple ways of engaging with a person or group of people.
The Reinvention Of Phone Directories
Perhaps the most important part of getting people to talk to each other on the phone again is making it easy. With how simple sending a text is, phone numbers have only become more difficult to manage. Who has their friends’ or even parents’ numbers memorized anymore? Most people very briefly stick a new phone number into their phone, and just as quickly lose or forget it. The problem is that no one organizes their phone book – we are too busy curating that perfect Twitter list or tending to our beach gardening blogs.
Voice messaging could eliminate concerns about texting while driving.
Facebook‘s new “Hello” app is an example of emergency technology trends toward easier communication. Hello is designed to connect you to your friends as quickly as possible, which lets you stay in touch easily. You can even search local businesses that have their phone number listed and talk to them. Meanwhile, all of your Facebook friends’ numbers will be listed alongside each other, and anyone who has not opted out of having their phone number displayed by a Facebook app is right there. It lets you quickly and easily get in touch with all of your friends without having to manually enter their Facebook phone number.
Hello is essentially a dialer program that is designed to make calling people easy. With the amount of knowledge Facebook already has about its user base, it’s easy to see why many people would want to get all of that contact information easily.
Is the technology invasive? Well, a little. It is a brain child of Mark Zuckerberg, after all – and the general Facebook attitude of “we already have your information so we might as well use it for something” can send chills down spines. However, this fairly mild case of making you easier to call doesn’t seem so bad. Or it won’t until someone uses it to track down an ex-wife. Until then, give the app a shot. It might be more convenient than you would imagine.
