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Speed-Dialer Apps That Can Save You Time

speeddialAs professionals increasingly switch to smartphones instead of landlines, there are a few conveniences that are being lost. One major loss is the speed dialing functionality of a traditional business phone, which allowed workers to dial someone with the push of a button. Instead, employees must now find the person in a list of contacts and dial from there, adding valuable seconds to each call.

As the ads once said, “There’s an app for that.” Several cloud-based options have emerged that shorten the time it takes to make calls to each of those frequent contacts. Here are three great speed-dialer apps that can improve productivity and reduce frustration.

Clear Contacts–This iPhone app calls itself an “elegant speed dialer.” Free for download, this app lets you set up groups and list frequent contacts, allowing you to either call or text people with one tap.

TouchPal Contacts–For Android phones, this app replaces a user’s standard dialer with this interactive dialer. To dial a frequent contact, an Android owner needs only draw a specified design. Contacts can also be found by initials, names, or part of a phone number.

Speed Dial–Android phone owners don’t even have to launch a separate app to use Speed dial, since the app launches when the phone starts up. Contacts can be organized into columns (Friends, Family, Business), with a search function allowing users to easily find contacts.

Tacts–This iPhone app makes speed dialing fun, offering multiple icon choices and designs to allow users to customize it for their own preferences. Users can set up rules that help the app learn their preferences. Based on those preferences, future groups will be set up.

Smartphones haven’t been known for their easy phone functionality. These apps make it easier to make calls and deploy group text messages, saving professionals time.

How to Get the Most of Out of Mountain Lion Contacts

Apple’s new OS, Mountain Lion, has been out for a while now.  One feature you probably use a lot is Contacts.  There are a few features you should know about in order to get the most out of this program.

Being in Sync

Mountain Lion’s Contact app allows you to sync all your contacts with your favorite web services.  Sync your contacts list with your Facebook and Google contacts.  Now all the people know can be codified and organized into one screen.

Put a Face to that Name

Now, you can click and drag an image into the Contacts and attach to someone’s information.  A meeting is a lot easier when you know who’s who.  If you don’t want to use actual pictures, the standard OS images like the parrot and penguin can be used.  If those don’t float your boat, you can click on the camera icon and take a picture of what you want with your webcam.

Did We Say Sync Already?

If you upload your Facebook and Google contacts information, you can also connect directly to those services through Contacts.  By clicking on headings on contact cards, you can see recent posts and updates.  It’s a good way to using just one program to deal with many.  You can even see their Twitter Feed.  If we live in the world of Too Much Information, at least Mountain Lion’s Contacts app helps us wade through it quicker.