There are a million travel apps out there for the business traveler – apps that track your points/miles, apps that track your flights, apps that track your time, apps that do conversions, etc… if you have a need, you can bet there’s an app for that! Now, there’s another hot new app for those of us who spend a lot of time on the go. I’m looking for any way to save time and be more efficient.
How many times does this happen to you? You’re walking through the airport with your carry-on and boarding pass in one hand and a beverage of choice in the other hand. Just then you remember something you forgot to do at the office or at home? Or you come up with your next brilliant idea? This is the point where you do one of two things 1) you stop in your tracks to make a note, a call, etc… or 2) you balance your beverage in the same hand as the boarding pass and carry-on and get your cell phone out with the other hand. Once you have the cell phone out, you can dial someone (hopefully they’re in your favorites) or you can send a text message (which is not easy w/one hand). I find that I call myself and leave messages for myself about things I need to do, should have done, want to do…. All of these options are extremely clumsy and slow me down in the airport – or I end up bumping into someone or something while I’m paying attention to my text messaging and not to where I’m going!
Now, there’s an app that’s going to solve my problem! The eDict App allows me to quickly and easily send a message to one of three contacts stored in the app. With one tap I open the app and with a second tap I choose who to send the message to. Then, all I have to do is tap save when I’m done recording and tap send! What’s unique is that this sends me an email with a recording – as opposed to having to log into voice mail (when I’m overseas this is awesome so that I don’t have to worry about international phone rates! I just need an email connection.)
Now you can easily send messages to your assistant, to yourself or to anyone else you choose to add to the app. The email comes with an attachment of the recording that you can transcribe later, listen to over and over again, or just delete. The recipient can also simply reply to the email message w/confirmation or additional information. Oh the time this will save!
Believe it or not, this scenario happens to me a lot… You’re boarding a flight and can’t find the address of your meeting in your arrival city. For me it typically means I’ll be arriving in Bangkok or Hong Kong or some foreign city unprepared. You call your office, but inevitably the call goes to voice mail, and you leave a message asking your office to find the address. Someone in the office has to listen to the message; find the information and either call you back or email you the info. By the time they get back to you, you’re probably already in the air! With eDict, you can launch your app and send a message (via email) to the person in your office that will have this information. Instead of trying to call you back, they can just hit respond with information you need. I think this is awesome!
You can configure the app to allow Geo-location (it will include a map of the location where the message was sent from), you can define (or leave blank) the subject line, text for the body of the message, add a carbon copy address and define the color you want to associate with the contact.
The app is available for iPhones (3GS, 4, 4s, 5) and iPad and requires iOS 5.0 or later and is found in the app store http://goo.gl/w0BLz. The app is currently free but will become a paid app very soon. Readers of VeryGoodPoints are getting a sneak peak and advanced access while it’s free!!! Download it now before you have to pay for it.
I had the chance to interview the creator and I can tell you that there are future release coming with additional functionality and enhancements! I really think this is a great new app for the business traveler (and probably a lot of other people too!) You can email the creators of eDict with feedback by contacting eDict directly
Want to win a $50 iTunes Gift Card? Here’s how you can enter – download eDict and leave a comment about what you think of the app. If you don’t have an iPhone or iPad, please read the rules for alternate methods of entry. You have until Friday September 28th at 6pm EST to submit your comment.
Contest Now Closed. The winner of the $50 iTunes gift card is comment #40 – Nacho! Congratulations!
Good luck!!
Rules:
Yep, there are always rules!
- You must be a US Citizen and at least 18 years of age to win
- Deadline: Friday September 28th at 6pm EST
- Void where prohibited by law; void in Rhode Island
- No purchase is necessary (the app is free during the contest period) and if you don’t own an iPhone or iPad you may alternatively enter by leaving a comment on this blog post about why you would use this app or why you wouldn’t use the app.
- One entry per person
- The winner will be announced on this blog and will have 10 business days to claim their prize by emailing verygoodpoints@gmail.com
- There is no affiliation between eDict and VeryGoodPoints
- The staff and family of eDict and VGP are not eligible to win.