Group Call & Text by Callvine Inc. is a great little app that allows you to easily send group texts and make group calls from your iPhone. I was very pleased with this free iPhone app overall. If you are looking to make conference calls, this would be a great way to go.
Until Sept. 7, all the calls that you make through Callvine are free. After that, make sure you read the details of the agreement. You can easily set up an account in-app and when the time comes, you’ll be able to purchase minutes for group call time through your iTunes account. Remember this: even after the Sept. 7, 10 minutes of calls for up to 20 people are free.
When you open Callvine, you will instantly understand the layout and functionality of the app. All the buttons are big and self-explanatory, and I thought that the presentation layer of this app was excellent. Everything that you need is right there and within minutes of launching, you will find yourself comfortable and at home.
On the bottom are your five main buttons. Your “Groups” button on the left is where you can preset groups that you call or text often so that they are one tap away. Add people from your address book, which integrates seamlessly with Callvine, press “Place Call,” and you are on your way. Next, the “Recents” button is a “recent calls” list of groups that you have called or text. To the right of that you have “Call Now” and “Text Now,” respectively. These are the on-the-fly group calling or texting interfaces. They make it easy to jump into a group call or send out a quick text to the gang to let them know where the party will be and that you may be running low on ping-pong balls.
Tap the “More” button on the far right and you will be into the nitty-gritty. Here, you can select from five different themes that make the app feel just like you want it to. You can record the greeting callers will hear as they join the group call, along with setting your group text signature. Here you will also find your account settings, help, and other information about the app– complete with a photo directory of the Callvine team, along with their board of directors. Well, it’s always nice to know with whom you’re working.
Overall, If you need group calling capability, this is the app. It’s nice to be able to conference with people who might not have an iPhone (yet). Be sure to tell them that the only reason their Nokia device is in this conference call is because of your iPhone. When they ask to host next time, smile politely, and then tell them no. Download and check it out.
