While we often joke about not using our cell phones to take and place calls any more, we probably do it more than we think. To that end our phone numbers are precious and we only really want to be contacted by people we know or are familiar with. Being able to keep track of all the numbers that go through your smartphone – especially if you’re a business – can be a chore. Contactive aims to revamp “Caller ID” and an even better way to keep up with your contacts.
Description: Contactive is not just another dialer replacement app – it’s much more than that. It’s the best way to get information on numbers that aren’t known to you or in your address book and it syncs recent activity between your contacts, such as SMS messages. It searches the Internet to get information whomever calls you, it makes your call log much easier to navigate and you’re no longer left in the dark with business names and unfamiliar callers.You can essentially think of Contactive as the modern-day reinvention of Caller ID, that also brings you closer together with your contacts. It shows all the information you have for your contacts in one screen and lets you call back or text back from one menu.
How it Works: To get started with Contactive, all you have to do is go ahead and download the app from the Play Store. After that there’s a small amount of set-up required.
You can either use your Facebook information to sign-in or sign-up with Contactive themselves. I went ahead and signed up with Contactive. The set-up is nice and simple, and doesn’t take long at all.
Getting the app set-up depends on how many social networks you’re willing to pile into it. When you do connect networks to Contactive, you’ll see info from your social networks in the “Updates” tab at the far right of the UI.
Contactive is nice and transparent about how everything works, like for instance when you choose to add Facebook – like most people will – it’ll let you know just what and why will happen.
When you add your social media accounts, Contactive will begin to add updates to the app. Such as birthdays and more. For me, the birthdays are a nice touch – I’d miss them all without this.
When using Contactive, the main focus is probably going to be the quick call menu. Here, you’ll get a much more detailed list than with your normal dialer app. For instance, you can see two Taxi companies. These numbers aren’t in my contacts but, I’ll remember them from now on as Contactive searched the Internet for the info. (In the screenshots below numbers are displayed but they’ve been blurred out to protect their info)
Let’s click on Joe Hunt, a good friend of mine. You get a lot of info to look at, including the last text message he sent me.
Contactive has quick shortcuts at the bottom as well, you can call, send an SMS or even an e-mail. This is far more detailed than the default Android phone app and probably better than the one from Samsung, Motorola or whoever. What most of you will be using Contactive for is to get info on local business and the like. Contactive does a great job of this. Take a look at the info for this taxi firm. I haven’t added information on this firm, not even their name. Contactive has done all the work for me:
If you’re looking for a way to get more info on those who call you, or bring interaction with your contacts together then Contactive is the app for you. What’s good about it is that it’s not too intrusive and for those used to stock Android, the app feels and looks the same but has so much more info on offer.
Opinion: Often, we get calls from numbers that are unfamiliar to us, like salespeople or even debt collectors. Contactive searches the net when you get a call and then displays the information we want on those callers. It’s great for myself, when calling local Taxi companies as I can finally remember a name and not a number. For people like my Dad, running a business through a smartphone he can quite easily manage clients and suppliers numbers. The app runs nice and quickly and it works really well. It’s the best phone app that I’ve come across in a while and it genuinely makes keeping a track of local businesses and your recent interaction with contacts a lot easier.
Ratings
- Speed (4/5) – There’s a slight delay when getting a call but, this is more of an Android quirk. Other than that Contactive is more than speedy enough.
- Features (5/5) – If you’re the type of person that still uses their phone as a phone then Contactive is a must-have app.
- Theme (4/5) – With a decent UI that doesn’t differ too much from the stock dialer, it’s easy to get used to and doesn’t feel cluttered.
- Overall (4/5) – With all the right boxes ticked, Contactive is just a few ticks away from being a perfect app.
Conclusion: Contactive is the best way to get a little more control over your phone. If you’re the type of person that has a lot of unfamiliar callers ringing, this is the best way to find out who these callers are and why they might be calling. There are often numbers that we call but, we don’t necessarily store, like takeaways. With Contactive, you can be sure to put names to numbers. It’s simple and easy to use, even if you’re not that tech savvy, you’ll know how to use the app and it’s great UI without any issues. Contactive is a no-brainer for those using a smartphone for business and it makes things a lot easier, soon you’ll find yourself connecting with your clients more efficiently.