Finally a FirstClass Mobile Application
by Antonio
If you own either an iPhone or iPod touch, you can now download the mobile application for FirstClass from the iTunes store.
http://bit.ly/tnlWL(note this link will open your iTunes Application)
A colleague recently posted a discussion on the ISENET Ning urging others to push Apple to release the FirstClass iPhone app. While I share the frustration of the group, I find myself more puzzled by the strategy FC has employed. Rather than have to go through the process of getting a proprietary app approved, why not make FC more easily integrated with the iPhone as well as other mobile devices. This has been one of my biggest frustrations and criticisms of FC since the Palm conduits stopped syncing my calendar back in 2006! Since then I have have had limited success with Blackberry and moderate success with email on my iPhone. I have since been forced to use iCal, which I like better for my calendaring option.
Seems like the more strategic approach would have been for FC to have made the new release more mobile friendly. Just my 2ยข. These were my thoughts earlier in the week when it appeared that the app would never see the light of day.
And then this morning I recieved a Tweet from a good colleague and friend @traviswarren informing me that the app was out. So naturally I downloaded and it installed it immediately.
A few initial reactions:
Installing/setup was easy. Mailbox is nice and the respond to email outside your own mail domain appears to be fixed. An issue that the IMAP mailbox never seemed to be able to get right.
Conferences work nicely, and the ability to read them is a plus. Search appears to still be ineffective.
HOWEVER, the biggest complaint I have and will continue to have is that the calendar is still NOT available. This has been the longest running issue for me personally for the past 5 years. It’s unfortunate to see the calendar missing from this first iteration but I am willing to cut some slack given that some of the other features appear to be working nicely.
So there you have it. A complete recap/ review written on my iPhone using the Wordpress mobile app and copy/paste while on an AT&T wifi connection, sipping iced coffee at Starbucks. Now that is cool mobile technology.
Comments
While I appreciate this information, we don’t use First Class. BUT, I did just get an iPhone, and I am totally impressed that you typed this all on your phone!! My thumbs aren’t working that well yet. I am having fun learning, thought.
Thanks for the information. I have also been struggling with accessing FC email with my iPhone as well as the calendar syncing issue. Being able to access the conferences will also be a plus for me. I am downloading the app as I am writing this and can’t wait to check it out. Thanks again for the valuable information.
Susan, I have to admit that it was the first time I really tried to post from the iPhone. I was really impressed with the Wordpress mobile app. It was intuitive and understood when I was trying to post a link and facilitated that process seamlessly. If I am not mistaken, your blog runs on WP so I would highly recommend downloading the app.
Karen, please consider sharing your experiences. My first day of trying to use the app was less than spectacular. It failed consistently when trying to add or delete contacts for an email to multiple people and was sluggish in terms of responsiveness. Let me know if you have a different experience!
Calendar– at first I thought it was missing as well, but then I found this…
http://www.commonworldinc.com/FCNEWS/I0032E87F
scroll down a bit… there are the instructions.
M.
I discovered quite by accident that if you triple-tap at the bottom of the settings page you can turn on an alarm which will provide a calendar icon and access to your FC calendar.
Thanks for the information! @marcusiologist, I have tested the ActiveSync solution for a while. And it does do a decent job but it does not do a perfect job.
Lynn, I tried your hack but couldn’t seem to figure it out. Any other details or suggestions?