Rebtel For iPhone 1.3 Is Here! June 2nd, 2010  

In the midst of all the diligent work on our Android app, some of you have probably wondered whether we have started to neglect our first born, the beloved Rebtel iPhone app. We can assure you that this is certainly not the case. Even if brother Android offers us an unmatched level of openness, the iPhone still got a lot going for it with its superior user experience, stunning looks and endless assortment of quality apps.

Our iPhone app has now reached version 1.3, and in this update we’re introducing two new primary features and improvements. The first one is native address book integration in the dial pad and the second one is called Collect SMS replies. Let’s have a look at how this new stuff actually works.

Dial Pad Address Book Integration

Even though it’s probably not as exciting as the Collect SMS reply feature, an improved dial pad is something many of you have been asking for. With the enhancements added in this version, we’re sure your past frustrations with it will be no more.

Prior to this update, it was quite a hassle to make a one-off Rebtel call with the app to a number in your address book without actually adding it as a contact. Now you can simply tap on the ‘+’ icon to access your address book and pick any number you wish without adding it as a contact.

Also prior to this update, if you were to find a number to a hotel online and wanted to give it a call using the Rebtel app, you would be made painfully aware that it didn’t support copy and paste to the dial pad. This has now been amended and you can finally copy and paste numbers into to the dial pad from websites, SMS messages, emails and more.

Collect SMS Replies

After launching the app and tapping on the SMS tab, tap on the ‘+’ icon in the right corner to select the recipient of your message. You can pick any international number you like, but please note that there are a few countries, USA to name one, which we aren’t able to deliver SMS to right now. This limitation is something we’re working hard on changing, so please bear with us.

Collect SMS replies is a feature you’ve been able to use on our site for some time and it has finally has made it to the iPhone. This nifty little feature allows you to include a short URL in your SMS message, which your friend can click and open in a mobile browser in order to send a reply back to you. Just as the word “Collect” entails, the reply is completely free of cost for your friend as you, being the good friend that you are, will pick up the tab for it.

Naturally, if you don’t want to treat your friend on a reply, you can simply select the ‘Send Without Link’ option.

This is the view your friend will see at the receiving end after reading your SMS message and clicking on the reply link. On this mobile web page, your friend is able to compose a reply message and send it directly to your phone. As you included a Collect reply link in your original message, the cost for the reply sent by your friend will be taken cared of by you.

If you’re already an existing user of Rebtel on the iPhone, simply go to the App Store to get the update and get started with trying out all the new features. If you don’t have the app on your iPhone, click here to download it. We look forward to reading all your (hopefully) nice feedback in our iPhone thread over at Get Satisfaction!

By: alexander drewniak Tags: app store, apple, internet telephony, iphone, voip