Bump for iPhone Review

Gear Diary is independently owned and operated. We receive compensation through advertising and from the companies whose products we review, usually in the form of the reviewed product. We test the products supplied to us, and the opinions expressed are our own.

Gear Diary is also reader-supported. When you buy through links posted on our site, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. You can learn more by clicking here.

bump_screen_001

Bump for the iPhone & iPod Touch has a lot going for it.  It happens to have the honor of being the 1 Billionth iPhone App downloaded.   It  is F-R-E-E.   The application actually makes what used to be a chore of swapping contact information with friends and colleages — gasp! — fun, and easy.

I know, I know.  It’s not Tap Tap Revenge Fun.  It won’t entertain you like Peggle will, either.  Bump will, however, help you rid yourself of of a pocket full of business cards and keep you from manually typing in numerous fields of emails, phone numbers, and addresses.  How?  Just  bump hands (or fist bump, if you are so inclined) with another iPhone user who has Bump installed and Voila!  You’ve exchanged contact info.  This app could liven up your next convention, for sure 😉

Just imagine it.  You are stuck in yet another stuffy meeting or convention filled with people networking & exchanging business cards.   You just pull out your iPhone, and bump a prospective colleage and wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am, before they can tell you they are the Assistant to the Regional Manager you have their contact information and they have yours!

Remember the excitement you felt when you took your Palm III and exchanged your information through infrared (IR)?  How cool was that?  Well, multiply that feeling by a thousand!  That’s how cool Bump is.  You’ll be running all over the office bumping contacts…whether they like it….or not.  (OK, maybe only if they like it.)

Now, the other person does have to have Bump running on their iPhone for this to work — and they do have to agree to the swap (so don’t plan on slyly giving your contact info to unsuspecting folks who do not want your number).  Sure, at first people may think you look a like a raving lunatic knocking your iPhone into everyone.  But, hey, the app can be a great ice-breaker, too.  You can show someone how it works, then they download it wirelessly and swap their contact information with you before the next drink refill.

Just don’t walk up to unsuspecting people and tell them you want to “bump” them 😉

iph_bump_app_007

Once you create your own contact card to share, you are all set.  I also like the fact that you control what information you want to share.  You have the option of selecting what information you want to share, from your entire contact card to specifics such as only your Photo, Phone Number, Email, Address, or any combination you choose.

The application uses the iPhone/iPod Touch accelerometer, cellular data or WiFi connection, and location data.  Bump uses an encrypted connection with a server (with the location based service) to determine if there is another device present attempting to share/transfer information.  The bump is actually used to detect the device accelerometer to initiate the data connection and data swap.

This brings up one very minor item:  you must have an internet connection to be able to exchange information.  One person can be using WiFi and you can be using your cellular data network — but you both must be “online”.

Since you don’t have to waste time typing information into your iPhone/iPod Touch, you have also increased efficiency (put that on your performance review!).   Heck, go ahead and put cost savings on that performance review, too, since you are 1) saving the cost of printing a stack of business cards (that most likely go into the trash anyway), and 2) the app is free.

iph_bump_app_006

Bump Technologies will soon be upgrading the application to send photos, other people’s contact info (hmmmm, hope they don’t mind), and to create multiple Bump profiles. As the screen cap above shows, these features will be integrated into a future Premium (paid) application.

If you have not already downloaded Bump from the App Store, I highly recommend it.

MSRP: Free from the iTunes App Store

What I Like: Eliminates the need to manually input contact information.  The app makes exchanging information easy, and (almost) fun.  It is Free!

What Needs Improvement: The ability to transfer photos and multiple contact cards seems to be coming with the Premium version, so that leaves me with zero to dislike or “wish for” with Bump.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support!

About the Author

Gear Diary Staff
Gear Diary was founded on September 30, 2006, with the goal to create a website that would not easily be labeled. Everyone who is part of Gear Diary is a professional who uses technology in their work and daily lives. On this site, we share our enthusiasm while exploring the gear we use — the equipment that makes our lives easier, more entertaining, more productive, and more manageable. Our hope is that Gear Diary visitors find this site to be a welcoming, friendly, and accessible place to learn about and discuss interesting topics — and not only those that are tech-related! Gear Diary is a place to discover and explore all kinds of new gear, including smartphones, computers, kitchen gadgets, Toys, EDC, camping gear, or even your next new car! You can follow us on Twitter @GearDiarySite.