I don’t spend a lot of time looking for or experimenting with new apps. I assume I’ll eventually hear about anything that really helps me. It takes a lot to change my systems of getting things done. When a friend told me to download Voxer so we could connect easier than via phone or text, I was almost annoyed. But I did it anyway. It changed everything!
Voxer is a simple messaging tool that allows for audio, text, and images. It’s much easier to use than the audio option native to the iPhone, and I find it incredibly natural to use it as the primary form of communication with friends and colleagues. It combines the passive communication form of email and text – where you don’t need a coincidence of mutual availability like a phone call – with the personalization and ease of voice. You can’t text while driving, and you don’t get to convey as much emotion and nuance.
The most valuable part is the ability to have threads with multiple people. At Praxis, the team has two seperate Voxer threads that are ongoing. One is for action items, and one is for big picture stuff. We all travel a lot and are rarely together in one place, so when one of us has an idea we want to bounce around, we can have a conversation about it right away but still work around our schedules. I’m a part of NBA and NFL threads with friends who are into sports where we debate what greatness is and trash-talk. My kids use it to leave me messages when I’m travelling. There is also a notes feature where you can leave notes to yourself, but without having to take up storage space on your local device like the native voice recorder app.
It’s hard to explain why Voxer adds so much value beyond the existing forms of communication, but I’m telling you if you and a few people with whom you regularly text, call, or email try it out, you’ll get it. It’s amazing.