Add this to your list of must have iPhone applications. Direct Line (iTunes link) is a service that helps you automatically navigate phone trees to get right to an operator (exactly what companies don’t want you to do).
Install the application, browse of search the included companies, and select the one you want. Direct Line then calls the number and preselects the appropriate choices to get you to an actual person.
The service operates much like Bringo, which we wrote about in 2007, but since it works directly from your iPhone it saves you the extra steps. In my testing it mostly worked, although it failed to get me through to operators at two companies (Air Canada and AT&T). No worries, though. Just send creator Michael Schneider an email at support@thisistech.com and he’ll update the database.
It’s well worth the $0.99. Direct Line joins DataCase on my list of must have productivity apps for the iPhone.
Update: AppVee did a video review:
I’ll add this to the list of reasons why I should consider getting an iphone. My blackjack can’t do this
That’s awesome…
good apps, I was finding easy calling apps all the time. eager to test it, hope it let me call more quickly and easily.
Also see “Dial 0″, which tells you how to get through the phone tree but doesn’t automate the process.
I was going to mention the same thing (Dial 0), then I read “automated”. That’s really nice!
I’m surprised that Apple opened up the phone portion that much — then again it wouldn’t have been a surprise if iPhone developers weren’t still bound by Apple’s ridiculous NDA!
I really like Dial 0, but it isn’t automated.
$0.99 for what amounts to an automated Dial 0, yeah, I’ll go for that!
Another app in the AppStore called Dial Zero (http://phobos.a...974033&mt=8) does nearly the same thing, and has been available for FREE since the AppStore opened on July 11.
Disclosure: I helped build it.
I read, I clicked, I bought. And then I re-blogged.
http://blog.abb...-hell-with.html
DialZero provides all of this information and is free in the iTunes store.
whats the direct line number for steve jobs..?
408-974-0421
I was going to mention Dial Zero as well, but seems like everyone already beat me
Alex
AppVee.com – The definitive source for iPhone app reviews
…and yet you repeated it anyway. I suppose it would have been hard to come up with something original, and you did need to get your signature spam in.
sick
I like the app’s icon…
@ Mike. Didn’t you and Kevin Rose come up with this last year at that meetup? I could have sworn you guys talked about this exact technology.
Mike,
Thanks for taking the time to review Direct Line.
I just fixed Air Canada and AT&T in the database, so they are now working. AT&T takes a long time to run through the process, but the program eventually gets you there.
If anyone has other feedback please send it my way: support@thisistech.com
It’s an honor to even be mentioned on TechCrunch. Thanks again.
–Mike Schneider
Love it.
Makes me want to get an iPhone
This is another great reason to buy an iPhone.
I love the App Store. It is like a candy store!
I just buy, buy, buy.
Awesome!!! This is going to save me so much annoyance.
Very cool App, so helpful and saves me all kinds of time. Can you make it find a United Airlines rep that speaks English?
AppVee video review:
I have to say that’s worth far more than the $.99 it’s selling for, that’s great. I’ll be downloading!
Jake
NoteScribe: Premier Notes Software
A very good soln to a very typical problem… does anyone knows if there is any J2ME application for phones?
Great to hear all the enthusiasm for Deep Dialing! Let me just do a quick plug for my company, Fonolo. We take this concept to the next level by actually showing you a transcript of the phone menu so that you can properly navigate and chose the spot to call.
Direct Line and Dial Zero offer you only one path – the quickest path to an agent. But remember that not all agents are equal. If you have a billing problem, you don’t want a technical agent. Often, just hitting zero gets you the wrong person and that makes the whole process even longer.
There’s more. Check us out at http://www.fonolo.com.
Not Available for windows mobile ? I want something like for windows mobile.
Meexo.com has been doing that for a while.
This app is awesome! What a time saver!! If you like this app, you should check out SlyDial too.