Still just using your voice to communicate? Or is SEND and END the way you are used to communicating while on the go? Let me explain how iPhone apps are changing the way iPhone users communicate and seek information.

Social Media – Heard of it yet? Some are using Facebook, and others are tweeting on Twitter. Many are using social media applications as a great marketing tool and creating a large group of business networks. You can Facebook or Tweet 24/7 while on the go and stay in touch with people you haven’t heard from in 20 years or in some cases, have never actually met in person.

Organization – Having trouble keeping track of meetings, what time to pick the kids up from soccer practice or even what you need from the grocery store? In 2008, Omnifocus won the Apple Design Award for Best iPhone Productivity Application. If you are one of those who like lists – then this is your application. You can organize your schedule, make your to-do list and even manage your shopping list. Better yet, locate your closest grocery store and create instant shopping lists. This app also has the ability to sync with your Mac computer.

Entertainment – Do you Fandango? If you’re a movie lover, you have to try it. Search by movie, theatre or let it “locate you” and tell you the nearest movie locations with times and even watch coming attractions. Fandango makes it easy to find out movie and time information wherever you are.

Big Business – Companies are also creating apps to communicate directly with and to their customers. State Farm Insurance, for example, has an app for its customers that gives access to personal insurance information and even lets you initiate a claim with just a few taps from the screen of the iPhone.
The list goes on and on, but iPhone apps have become big business. Many apps are free, but consumers are also spending big bucks for apps important to them. IPhone application developers are creating new apps every day, so be sure to check back often. You may find one you won’t want to live without.

Heath Clinton is president of Phase 2 Interactive. Phase 2 has been developing Web sites and online applications and now iPhone applications for some of the state’s largest and most recognized businesses. For more information on Phase 2’s product and services, visit www.phase2online.com.

1. Clients have the right to working software, at regular intervals, throughout the implementation life cycle.
2. Clients have the right to usable software.
3. Clients have the right to clear, non-technical communication about the software being developed and the development process.
4. Clients have the right to the best solution available.
5. Clients have the right to be regularly involved in the software development process.

Good software should work well, but you’ll notice it doesn’t say clients have the right to working software. “Working” software means different things depending on who you’re talking to at the moment. To some “working” can mean the software works if you do things just right, if you enter all the correct information, you remember the correct order of operation or you’ve read the instruction manual ten times through. To others “working” means a piece of software should do everything they can think a user will ever want, everything they can dream up or everything a competitor is doing.

“Usable” means something different and gives us the right foundation. It implies a balance between over-engineering vs. under-engineering and feature creep vs. under-development. Usable means the software does everything that it needs to do, nothing more and does so elegantly.

The key to “Usable” is that it puts the focus where it should be, the end user. While most of the time the client and the developer have great ideas and intentions, neither can be the objective third party necessary to create great software. By focusing on exactly what end users need inorder to accomplish their tasks we get an unbiased judgement about that button placement, this workflow order or the proper number of navigation elements.

Without fighting for this Right, a project will only be a success for the end user through pure luck. Watch this video for a hilarious but oh so true example of what happens when you don’t value “Usable”: Watch Video

Drill Right Technology – Drill Right Technology is one of the top directional drilling companies in the region. Early in 2008 they identified a need to improve their business processes using technology tools across their drilling operations. Working closely with key personnel we created a software solution that would help them accomplish their goals and solve some nagging issues. Using a variety of cutting edge technologies including Microsoft’s Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) framework, we built a world class software solution that :

• A top of the line User Interface and intuitive User Experience – Our excellent UI/UX team used the power of the WPF framework to craft a software experience unmatched in the Energy Industry.
• Synchronization of data from operations across various field locations to central data store – The ruggedness of the oil field does not provide the luxury of reliable internet connections, so we developed a partially connected desktop application that allows uninterrupted productivity with all the benefits of an online application when a connection is available.
• Advanced three dimensional drilling predictions – Drill Right needed their field operators to have access to the same advanced well path mapping capabilities as engineers using other costly software tools. By quickly understanding the complex three dimensional well path calculations our team was able to build in well path prediction software that allows field operators to react, in real time, to dynamics of a directional drilling operation.

Yukon Public Schools – Yukon Public Schools began the 2008- 2009 school year by rolling out their newly designed Web site. YPS came to Phase 2 with a set of goals that needed to be met by their Web presence. Not only should the site be a place to find the school phone numbers, but it should become a central hub of information for parents, students, faculty, and the community. To accomplish this, the site would have to be easily maintained with a content management system (CMS) but more importantly, feel organized and attractive. Using a number of solutions and tools within the CMS, we built a Website that:

• Provides clear & well organized navigation
• Is easily updated and maintained by administration and teachers, therefore, providing the Web site with fresh and relevant information at all times.
• Provides easy access to user specific groups such as parents, students, staff, and the community.
• Has an up-to-date attractive feel.

These are only two examples of recent projects where we’ve been able to help our clients improve their core business, in substantial ways, with well designed software.