Thoughts about my free iphone app - WhatsApp
May 9, 09, 4:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: M&M
Posts: 56
Thoughts about my free iphone app - WhatsApp
hi there,
i hate shameless self promotion, but i couldn't resist posting here because i wrote this app with people like us in mind (those who travel a lot)
ever since i semi-retired a little over a year ago, i been traveling A LOT and i hated it when people tried to reach me when i am on the plane or out of the country. so i asked myself -- wouldn't it be cool if i just set a status for my iPhone, similar to how you can set a status on yahoo messenger or skype.
problem found - problem solved. so i spent a couple of months and developed a little tool called WhatsApp - it can let you set a status like "On the flight to munich, send email instead of calling me" or "In Japan for two weeks, my cell there is +81 829 282718"
our site with screenshots and faq is: http://www.whatsapp.com and direct itunes link is: http://itunes.com/app/whatsapp
i would like to hear your feedback and suggestions on the idea. hit or miss?
(of course app is useless 'til your contacts begin to use it also)
P.S. - i know a lot of you are BlackBerry users, and we are working on a BlackBerry version already (wish there was more hours in the day)
i hate shameless self promotion, but i couldn't resist posting here because i wrote this app with people like us in mind (those who travel a lot)
ever since i semi-retired a little over a year ago, i been traveling A LOT and i hated it when people tried to reach me when i am on the plane or out of the country. so i asked myself -- wouldn't it be cool if i just set a status for my iPhone, similar to how you can set a status on yahoo messenger or skype.
problem found - problem solved. so i spent a couple of months and developed a little tool called WhatsApp - it can let you set a status like "On the flight to munich, send email instead of calling me" or "In Japan for two weeks, my cell there is +81 829 282718"
our site with screenshots and faq is: http://www.whatsapp.com and direct itunes link is: http://itunes.com/app/whatsapp
i would like to hear your feedback and suggestions on the idea. hit or miss?
(of course app is useless 'til your contacts begin to use it also)
P.S. - i know a lot of you are BlackBerry users, and we are working on a BlackBerry version already (wish there was more hours in the day)
Last edited by jkb76; May 9, 09 at 8:36 pm
Jul 15, 09, 11:24 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: M&M
Posts: 56
hi there,
just wanted to mention that version for blackberry is available. you can see BB screenshots of the app in action here:
http://www.whatsapp.com/bb.html
and you can download the BB app from http://www.whatsapp.com/bb/
just wanted to mention that version for blackberry is available. you can see BB screenshots of the app in action here:
http://www.whatsapp.com/bb.html
and you can download the BB app from http://www.whatsapp.com/bb/
Sep 12, 13, 8:58 pm
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
The only thing I wish it did was let me use my ipad if I sync to a central account. When abroad I still want to use WhatsApp, but don't want to carry a phone with a mobile SIM and a phone for WhatsApp.
Sep 13, 13, 1:44 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: cbr
Programs: QF WP (OWE) | Hyatt Globalist | HHonors Diamond
Posts: 4,972
Ha! Who knew this app was created by an FTer. Love the app. Use it instead of texting. If there was a way to use this app via tablets and computers (think a platform independent iMessage equivalent) that would me great! Just a suggestion.
Sep 13, 13, 9:10 am
#7
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 17,957
Sep 13, 13, 10:15 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,732
Sep 13, 13, 11:22 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 25
Sep 13, 13, 2:00 pm
#11
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Hellsea - NY, NY, USA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,992
I do use it as well, it seems to be quite popular with non-US mobile users as well given the lack of free, unlimited SMS in other parts of the world.
That said, I would say my biggest feedback item is that the UI is a bit busy. Don't get me wrong, functionally it is great and I like the fact that it uses your mobile number to locate you.
But if you could make the UI much more clean and modern, I think I would tend to use it more often. A simple background (white) with simple chat bubbles and less clutter in the message screen would make it much more visually appealing, IMVHO.
Call me an aesthete, but that's the only thing keeping me from using it more frequently.
But I definitely offer my congratulations on building such a popular and widely adopted app. It's not easy to get that level of adoption! ^^
That said, I would say my biggest feedback item is that the UI is a bit busy. Don't get me wrong, functionally it is great and I like the fact that it uses your mobile number to locate you.
But if you could make the UI much more clean and modern, I think I would tend to use it more often. A simple background (white) with simple chat bubbles and less clutter in the message screen would make it much more visually appealing, IMVHO.
Call me an aesthete, but that's the only thing keeping me from using it more frequently.
But I definitely offer my congratulations on building such a popular and widely adopted app. It's not easy to get that level of adoption! ^^
Sep 13, 13, 2:32 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA Silver, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 20,489
I used WhatsApp as part of a group of guys in Vegas for a bachelor party. It was an awesome communications tool to keep track of everyone. My biggest problem was that it drained my battery (Galaxy S3) faster than any app I've ever used. Basically hit 0% after 11-ish hours of use.
Sep 13, 13, 2:51 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,024
Isn't this one of the apps that take all your contacts from your device and upload them to a remote server? Since I have many non-contact entries in my address book (e.g. a contact card with DOB's, passport numbers, etc.), I'm reluctant to use such an app since it would indiscriminately take all this personal information and store it on a remote server.
I stick with Skype b/c basically, by logging in with a distinct login/password (as opposed to a MS ID linked to my other MS programs and accounts) and saving only limited information in Skype's address book, I'm limited the amount of data Skype would have and could take and save.
I stick with Skype b/c basically, by logging in with a distinct login/password (as opposed to a MS ID linked to my other MS programs and accounts) and saving only limited information in Skype's address book, I'm limited the amount of data Skype would have and could take and save.
