First Look: Handshake for iPhone
How many times have you been away from your computer and wanted to give someone your contact information? With a new app called Handshake [iTunes Link], you can send another iPhone (or iPod touch) user any contact information stored on your iPhone. The application works by using Core Location coupled with other technologies to send address book cards over the air.
When you first launch Handshake, it will attempt to find your address book card; if it can't, it will ask you to specify a card. Handshake will then connect to its servers, and you will be able to send either your card, a contact's card, or a picture -- just by tapping on one of the main three buttons. You can also change your default card by tapping the wrench in the top-right corner of the application and choosing the blue arrow under "My Card."
This is a very simple application, with a very simple idea, that just works. The application will send data over WiFi, 3G, and EDGE connections. Since the application uses Apple's Core Location framework, it relies on GPS, cell triangulation, or WiFi positioning. The lack of GPS on the iPod touch makes the app less reliable than the iPhone, but a new feature in version 1.1 hopes to fix this by allowing users to search for others who are sharing cards. Version 1.1 will also give users the ability to send industry-standard vCards through email to other people, regardless of whether they're using an iPhone or not.
Handshake is currently at version 1.0.1, and can be downloaded from the iTunes Store in two flavors: free or paid. The paid version removes the ads. Version 1.1 should be out sometime this week. You can look at our gallery of screenshots to see the additions to version 1.1.
Thanks to Kyle Richter and Ian Baird for the information, and their help!
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How many times have you been away from your computer and wanted to give someone your contact information? With a new app called Handshake...
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The lowest common denominator of connectivity is sending vcards via SMS which almost every phone in the world supports, except the iPhone.
With all the respect in the world for the developers, it's frankly ridiculous that this application exists.
Apple needs to implement the basics still.
That's a fair point, and I appreciate your response to my question. Thanks for the kind words, and rest assured, we are going to be providing more "premium features" than just ad-removal in the future for the Handshake Premium users. Just watch TUAW for the sneak previews.
November 04 2008 at 4:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI don't understand why Apple doesn't build something like this into the Contacts app. I had a Palm Pilot 8 years ago that could send my info to another unit via IR. Not being able to do it on the iPhone is almost as annoying as not being able to shoot video clips...
November 04 2008 at 9:02 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThis app is the epitome of a Rube Goldberg machine.
Lets use GPS, cell tower triangulation, and the internet to connect to a third party server in order to send a couple lines of data to another phone that sits across the table from you.
Unfortunate that it's currently the best solution for swapping contact into short of manually taking down the data.
Unfortunately, it's really the only pragmatic way right now. Bluetooth is inaccessible, and even when it's there, people turn it off as it's a perceived security threat. Even if you're at a conference or in the office, you can't be sure that everyone is attached to wifi, so Bonjour's out the window. Handshake aims at the lowest common denominator of connectivity, which is why it's successful.
November 04 2008 at 4:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt's annoying that this should even be an "App". Why is something so simple as sending a contact SO complicated? The BlackBerry has had the ability to "Send Contact" via SMS, email, MMS forever. It's stupid to have to use proximity sensors and GPS to send something only to another iPhone. WTF. What if I want to send contact info to a buddy on the other coast?
November 03 2008 at 7:01 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI wish there was a way to limit which fields of my card gets sent. For example, if I'm exchanging info in a professional setting, I'd rather not send my home address or phone number.
November 03 2008 at 6:11 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replywhat's the point in having this program. It can't run in the background? If both parties are sitting there waiting for something, it's useless.
Some things make the iPhone a useless phone.. Like lacking such a basic feature (Stock) and not implementing it even after tons of new firmware updates... Even a $20 phone can send business cards without WiFi.... Can't Apple spend a few minutes to implement a business card sender via SMS...!!!
I cant tell people to connect to WiFi just to get my business card !! Its faster to dictate my phone no.!!!
Handshake does not require wifi.
November 03 2008 at 4:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWhen you say "implemented with as much care as the program itself," would you mind elaborating on that point? As one of the developers of the app, I'm always happy to receive constructive criticism.
About the AdMob ads, we're killing them in release 1.1. The vertically rotating ads at the top will stay, as we have to cover our overhead. For less than the price of a grande Latte at Starbucks, you're welcome to upgrade to Handshake Premium, which comes with no ads and an extra frothy dose of good karma!
I tried iBeam and Handshake, but chose to stick with Fliq. No ads, no crazy UI -- and its FREE!
November 03 2008 at 12:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHot Apps on TUAW
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