What should be the next 3 features for Ovi Contacts?
Wed, 2009-09-23 10:22Written by Kristian Luoma, product manager, Ovi Contacts
Hey there,
It's been a while since we've written about the progress of Ovi Contacts client development here in the Beta Labs, so it is about time we give an update.
What has kept us busy over the last few months has been our effort to get Ovi Contacts functionality ready to the software packages that ship in the devices right from the factory. We've successfully deployed Ovi Contacts to a variety of S60 devices and Series 40 products too and as you may have noticed it made it to the N900 as well. We're hoping that this is effort that will show its value over time, as you'll find more and more people to chat with.
The N900 chat also enables you to share your whereabouts in the status message. The way it is done in N900 is slightly more versatile from the S60 app version: it automatically resolves the street name for the place you are in, even if you have not stored the place name as a landmark. What do you think, is this a better solution for location sharing in your status, or did you prefer the way we have in the S60 app?
Related to the S60 app development, I should say that we just recently made an updated version available of the app for 5800 XpressMusic and N97 (as some of you already noticed in the discussion forums ;-)). The new version of Ovi Contacts is much more stable, as quite a few early problems that we had have now been solved. Furthermore, this software release also contains a feature that has been long-waited and requested by most of the Beta Labs actives: more descriptive friend invitation pop-up. In the new pop-up you can see who is the person behind the Nokia account username (i.e. firstname, lastname and profile image are visible to your friend who receives the invitation).
Looking through the comments in the discussion forums one thing is easy to pick up: quite a few of the people have been expressing their feelings about the product name, that it should be something else than "Ovi Contacts". We do have to take this seriously, as so far we've been only delivering fairly little contact management features and mostly the Ovi Contacts feature set has been focused on connecting via status updates and instant messages. To set this right, I'd like to throw the ball on to your side: to deliver on the Ovi Contacts, what should be the next 3 features we incorporate in to the app? We'll have to figure out a price of some kind for the best proposal, but regardless if you'll get the price or not, we truly value your input.
Thanks in advance!
-Kristian
Comments
1) Add cross platfrom support to enable users to communicate with MSN, AIM, ICQ etc contacts directly form the mobile client, without having to use psi to do this. Either this or create some Nokia/OVI specific transports such that users can use soemthing like psi but with the improved stability of being able to use a more reliable Nokia/OVI transport server.
2) How about adding the ability to merge and split IM chats, such that if you are chatting with one colleague you could add a secton colleage or they could ask to join and then slit them again later. This wold add an interesting informal meeting functionality providing some sort of flexible chat room facility to the client. If this multi user chat roomesque system needed managing then the originator of the chat could be managing the chat with the ability to either manually or automate hand over when he/she is leaving the chat. I accept this may be a bit of a biggy, but it would be a nice expansion of the client.
3) My Ideal would be some sort of incorporation of a cross communication plaform enabling the end user to follow his convesation with a colleage via all communication methods (soemwhat lke has been acheived on the Palm Pre I think it is). This would enable the use to choose the method of response to a call/sms/mms/im/email from a colleague and still have the conversation tracked. I realise this is probably a distance away at present, but this would be an end goal for me.
I would have asked for the client to install somewhere other than the C: drive, but I accept due to it's Contacts incorporation this is probably needed to minimise lag in the phone.
There's my two peneth anyway. Keep up the good work.
mbrett
N97 RM-505 (Product Code: 0585262 (Vodafone UK)) FW 11.0.021
N95 8Gb (Product Code: 0558787 (UK)) FW 31.0.015
http:///www.twitter.com/MartynBrett
http://www.n97geeks.com
The most obvious one is that Ovi contacts should work with more 3rd party IM providers. I personally would like to see it work with facebook chat, but also msn etc. I assume you guys are already working on this, so i will give you three more:
1. Ovi contacts should be able to assign multiple IM accounts to the same person. My friend phill uses both Ovi and Gmail chat, so my ovi contacts list at the moment looks like i know 2 seperate people named Phill.
2. Ovi contacts needs better notifications shown on the homescreen. Maybe even an Ovi contacts homescreen widget for the n97?
3. Sending location is nice, but could do more. For example, I'd like to be able to send calendar entries to my friends via Ovi chat. This would be great for organising parties etc
well here is my ideas:
1) You should add Ovi Contacts support to Ovi suite program and when you start ovi suite or you plug your phone to the software, it should automatically update your location to "at home" or something like that. Also chat capability would be nice
2) many have alreaydy said this, but ovi contacts have lack of users. Add facebook chat, msn and etc. support to the program
3) I really don't have any 3rd good idea but overall installation paggage would be always a bit smaller due Nokia phones small C: drive.
As already noted 3rd party contact support is critical. I do not define my friends by the device they choose to use.
I would like to see contacts actually and finally integrate across the services. Before you do that you should choose which chat platform of the two you have will go forward as integrated across your platforms. This chat system seems to offer more features ( but less 3rd party) than the other ...
Speaking of contacts, I would like to see my contacts scanned and automatically added for chat access without having to manually add people. Seems the N900 does this ... S60 should as well.
I would also like to see SMS integration so that you could maintain a conversation with a contact across both SMS and IM on the same thread.
Per the blog post, I like the ability to show the location automatically instead of having to define the landmark. That said, the user should be able to specify whether they want the city to show or the street, this should be an option due to privacy concerns.
Excluding cross-platform support as everyone else has mentioned, my top 3 recommendations would be:
1.) File transfer (media, files, etc) and full integration into the rest of the platform so that you can 'send to' an Ovi Contact
2.) A small desktop PC / MAC client so that I can converse with my contacts while I'm at work. A browser plug-in might be ideal.
3.) Integration with Ovi Maps so that we can see each other on the map and initiate a conversation from the map view.
In so far as a name goes, "Ovi Chat" worked. However, if that doesn't do the trick, then you should adopt the name "Ovi Messenger" or something of that sort.
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Specs:
N97-3 | RM-507 | Firmware: V20.2.007
All thoughts & opinions expressed above are my own, and not of any other organization
www.twitter.com/jamaalism
1. Definitely agree that resolving the location name is preferred to using my landmarks. I'd like to see this brought to S60 quickly.
2. More protocols supported would be cool, but ONLY if you also bring the ability to group contacts, as mentioned above. Digsby on the desktop does this - for instance, I have my friend Jonathan on my Gtalk, Ovi, MSN, and Skype buddy lists, but I only have *one* entry for him in my Digsby buddy list. When I click to chat with him, Digsby intelligently routes it over whatever Jonathan is signed in on. Without the grouping feature, adding more protocols will only serve to add more clutter to the buddy list.
3. Integration with SMS would be awesome. It would be even cooler if Ovi Contacts could search through my existing phonebook and match contacts via phone number or email address, and automatically add people to my Ovi Contacts buddy list.
Also, if you guys are going to keep the Ovi Contacts name (which isn't bad, IMO), you need to become our *ONLY* contacts list on Ovi - should synchronize with N-Gage, Ovi Mail, Ovi Share, etc, to be the central list of contacts for my Ovi experience.
1) We've been saying from day one, 3rd party contact support is critical!!!!
2) a pop up alert just as we get for text/mms/email alerts when a new message arrives (just like we have with the wireless village IM protocol)
1.) Support for msn, gtalk, etc
2.) SMS/ MMS/ EMAIL integration
3.) A pc support program that could sinc with ovi contacts on my phone when Im working with my pc for example.
Saludos desde Chile !!
nokia rlz
Great to see someone asking for features list.
My wishlist is as follows, though more than 3.
1) Better integration on Phone, PC and other OVI/Nokia services contacts ( as mentioned by rcadden)
2) Update in client for FP1 devices to have similar features like FP2 phones.( Dont know if this is possible?)
3) Update notification for new version, this basic feature should be there for all applications.
4) You should have N900 type location detection in S60 version also.
I think there is bit duplication effort with OVI contacts as Nokia Messaging also now having chat support, for few devices and Nokia messaging could be paid feature. But still I feel Nokia should concentrate in fewer services rather than having duplicate services.
Suyog
most of my suggestions were already stated (eg multiple accounts integrated as 1 person, msn and other IM protocols)
so ill add what i can
No more limitations- why cant my friend who owns another type of device be able to use ovi chat? i think by doing this it could propel others to be more aware of ovi (photos, email,music) and also push others to buy nokia as they would get more services
a desktop client with integrated IM protocols
just my 2cents worth
just enable the ovi features to other non ovi clients, like talkonaut....
1. Out-of-the-box support for MSN; 2. Allow usage of front cam for video chats.
As other people says, 3rd party chat is needed. Especially, MSN, GTalk and Facebook.
In France, the future launch of Facebook Birthday isn't appreciate : http://www.symbianfrance.com/2009/09/25/nokia-prepare-facebook-birthday-...
All people would prefer a full Facebook software integrated with Contacts. For example, automatic add of birthdays into my contact if they noticed it on Facebook.
We should see the status of my contacts. In fact the awesome "Ovi Lifecasting" should be integrated into Ovi Contacts.
We should think about a huge Ovi software which will link all the usual applications.
- Know where are my contacts thanks to Ovi Maps,
- Know if they are busy or not thanks to shared agenda,
- Know how they feel thanks to their status,
- Have the choice to contact them : Phone, SIP, SMS, MMS, Mail, Chats, (= Nokia Messaging),...
The amount of job to make a perfect application need to capitalize on older and other software. Stop making many correct applications and start thinking to make the "Social application of tomorrow".
Don't forget that the first feature of a cell phone is to share with our contacts (friends, family,...), so it's the perfect tool for using a social application.
I wrote a post in January where I included the features I would love to have in the product. Some of them have been included. But well, here is my revisited list, and also some new thoughts:
1 File sending. This is a very important feature for business users, and also for non business users that like to send files...
2 Photo capture and sending (as you can do with palringo for example).
3 Make voice clips easier to capture, sending and listening. I've used this feature with agile messenger and palringo, and i think that they have nailed it...
If you can add one or more features..., well here they are:
* SMS sending to offline contacts (asked to the user first, of course).
* Contact grouping.
Also, I kown you can use PSI as a client for the PC, but i think it would be a HUGE marketing tool to have an Ovi Contacts / Nokia IM client for Windows/Mac... that let the user chat from the PC without getting disconnected from the phone (I repeat i know it can be done with PSI, but only IT geeks like me do that). It would turn the eyes of many users to "Contacts on OVI" against RIM's "BB messenger".
On the topic of MSN/Yahoo/Gtalk/ICQ and any other communities included in the product..., at least on the phone. If you can have a page like Nokia messaging where you can add and manage accounts over the web instead of the phone, well it would be GREAT, but try to do over the phone is usually frustrating for the end user.
Remember Gizmo 5 for S60?, it was really painfull to add the accounts over the phone or the PC Client. So, please, keep in mind that if you are going to do this, it has to be very, very easy for the user. I have been using Nokia messaging IM for E71, and it lacks some simplicity yet.
Vitaliano G.
5800 XM / E71
Vitaliano G.
1. auto set status according to profile (silent=do not disturb, General & screen active = avaialable). Ensure that this is customisable if desired (so the user can match status to profile!). If configured this should also set this status on other linked IM systems (is this a feature of XMPP, which both OviContacts and Gtalk are based on?)
2. Contacts only appear once with all available services (GTalk, MSN, Facebook etc) listed (as the N900 appears to do.
3. Make use of "teams" feature/tool for grouping of contacts. I am not sure how many devices have teams installed, but it is one of the many "hidden gems" in the Nokia portfolio. Once grouped, allow the configuration of levels of visability. If you really want to go all out, import Facebook "friend groups", and use those as the basis for teams.
Regarding the location update, good work. Now you need to think about privacy concerns, for instance, i might only want some people to know which City or Country I am in, not which street.
Oh and please keep supporting FP1 phones, while touch screen is getting all the press, it is these phones that are still the biggest part of the market.
When I think of Ovi Contacts, I think of my address book. With that in mind, I would like to see the 3 following features:
1. Ability to store more than IM protocol information. I would like to be able to select a contact and IM them, but also SMS, email, message through twitter, or even call them.
2. Be able to login using a Google Talk account
3. How about notification when one of your contacts is near you.
1) How about being able to install on my N85? Since I got the v30 firmware, which was supposed to have Ovi Contacts but didn't, I cannot download the installer because when I visit the website http://contacts.ovi.com/dist/app on my phone it says "You may have this application already installed on your device."
2) Just replace contacts all together like all other manufacturers are doing. Have access to all their contact information, status updates and other goodies.
3) More integration with Google services
1- file transfer (media, docs, photo, etc...)
2- file transfer hehehe
3- file transfer xD
1-Allow it to be installed on N85
2-Allow it to be installed on N85
3-Allow it to be installed on N85
Like bstephens, I receive the same message of, "You may have this application already installed on your device". If it is actually installed on N85, but we can't access it, see suggestion #4.
4-Fix firmware so it installs correctly on N85
1- Send File or Photo taken directly from Camera, such as blackberry allows that ( You open the lens, take a pic, send in chat ) ... amazing feature
2- Send Voice message ...
3- Pop-up chat dialog box when you receive a new message in homepage, menu, and all other menus ..If that is not practical .. Let a small notification appear in the corner when a new message arrives
Extras : More integration with other platforms (e.g. MSN ), Easier access (N97 Homepage widget), glassy effect UI, transition effects between chats..
For now I believe that adding a send picture instantly through ovi contacts is simply the best feature to be added ... PLEASE DO ADD THIS FEATURE !!!!!
In this way blackberry users wont show off about their bbm's anymore haha.
Regards,
Z
In terms of the next three features, I'm pretty much in agreement with many here:
1) Integrate support for MSN/Yahoo/AIM, Skype for IM; and then Twitter, FB, etc. for status messaging
2) Contact scanning (using the preset fields on the N97/5800 would be a good place to start searching); with the contact grouping as RCadden described
3) Mixed-mode chatting: SMS to IM, IM to SMS; using the IM threaded conversation view; with the user able to set which mode takes primary
Beyond these, I'd like to see the file transfer integration come; and then a (slightly) faster push to replace the built-in app on older devices. The more people using a presence-enabled address book, the more you can push the location/context-based services forward.
EDIT: Funny note, I post this and within minutes my N97 notifies me that there's an update for Ovi Contacts (to version 1.20); wonder what's new :)
AntoineRJWright.com | MobileMinistryMagazine.com
1. Get rid of "Out of memory" errors on fp1
2. Hide offline contacts
3. Implement real address book integration
Why can I not:
1. set a default country code so that all numbers are registered with the default prefix (i.e +46 for Sweden)
2. Have the possibility to set prefix to other than default when entering new numbers
3. Have the prefix in a seperate column when exporting data in *.csv format (because excel has a way with leading zero's or +)
maybe it's already possible - but I have been all over the Nokia PC Suite - and found nothing...
Best regards,
Nokia 6300 / N79
1. Allow it to automatically look through your contact list and ask to add anyone in the phones address book that has an Ovi account or Google account in their contact information.
2. Allow user to use their Google account credentials so that their Google Chat/GMail friends will automatically be populated into their contact list.
3. Have the program auto connect once the phone has a data connection. This way the user does not have to keep manually connecting when the phone loses signal.
I agree with madreaper. Since Contacts is XMPP-based, we need to be able to use WHATEVER XMPP server we want - whether it's OVI (where I have NO contacts) or GTalk (where ALL of my contacts are).
I'd also like to see better Contacts presence integration in the phonebook. For example a small colored indicator for entries in the phonebook who are also on your Contacts list rather than having a separate tab.
NOTE: I've posted this on the suggestion section, but i guess none of the programmers have read it, so I'm posting it everywhere until I get some kind of response from at least one of the programmers 'cause i think I good some good suggestions here.
SOURCE: http://betalabs.nokia.com/forum/topic/3153
I'm so envious of BB Messenger and BB users, cause they can keep in touch all the time through BB Messenger will all their friends, and in a country like mine, 7 out of 10 of my acquaintances use Blackberrys...
Whats so good about this BB phones?
Well, for starters, BB ships all their phones with a native IM app and with a unique ID, so they all can just turn on their phones and start chatting,
Nokia Users have a disadvantage here, cause we MUST download Ovi Contacts, its not available for all phones, and some of its newer versions are not available for fp1 (1.09) and fp2 (1.2) phones, only s60v5 phones have 1.5...
So Nokia doesn't update...
Ovi contacts doesn't stand a chance with BB Messenger,
BB users can create Chat Groups, for instance, If u work in a office, and someone creates a group for your office, you all can stay in touch with your coworkers through that group, a feature Ovi contacts lacks...
BB users can send pictures and files with ovi contacts... We can't.
I have an n82 v31, and sometimes, the Ovi contacts app closes by itself, its a slow app (1.09, cant update to a newer), sometimes it logs it self out, and it doesn't log back in; and it doesnt saves the chat history, Thats not a problem for BB users...
My recommendation for Nokia:
1st, ship all newer phones with Ovi Contacts and with a default Ovi Contacts ID, and enable users to create a portable ID if they want to...
2nd Update all phones(Yes, all of them, even the lower ends phones) and make that newer firmwares have Ovi Contacts by Default with the features of the 1st point
3rd Show new messages with a pop up, just like new SMS are shown.
4th Please make a faster and lighter app.
5th Nokia should make it so that at least 50% of Nokia phone users have Ovi Contacts by the 3rd quarter of 2010. They should make this available for all users either with a default Ovi Contacts ID or "Ovi Messenger ID" as i would call it to make it more appealing. Why should they do this? I read somewhere that by the third quarter of 2009, nokia has sold 108 million units, and they were number 1followed by Samsung and LG. Blackberry hasnt come close to this, but... If we had a scenario where BB messenger users were outnumbered by Ovi Messsenger Users, being the second compatible with google talk, (available for all phones through 3rd party apps and available for Blackberry through its own native Google Talk app) Everyone would start ditching BBs for nokia phones, instead of what is going on in my country (everyone is ditching their phones for a blackberry because it has BB messenger).
Even I consider BB a lower quality phone, but u gotta give them credit for what they are doing with their BB messenger...
Everyone around me wants a BB cause it has a IM app that keep them in touch with everybody...
Sorry for my crappy English but i think you got the point of my blog. hope someone reads it.
Im sorry if my post hurts the ego of the Nokia Programmers, but in order to compete with the best IM mobile app in the market, you must learn from it,
i read somewhere that @kristian hasn't tried it yet, well he should, hell, all the programming team should... learn from it, then, try to make something better, and make it work for everyone, even lower end phones!
Ah yes, ship all phones with it, and make it standard for everyone in newer firmwares.
Yes, i use Ovi Contacts, but in order to stay in touch with all my friends, i have to use Nimbuzz to stay in touch with them through MSN, and Facebook Im, with drains my battery way faster than just using Ovi Contacts would. This is a pain in the ass cause i have to take my charger along with me all the time, BB battery's last way lot more.
BB users only uses their BB messenger cause the vast majority of their MSN contacts and Facebook friends have Blackberry, at least in my country, don't know about yours...
I'm still using Nokia cause my phone has a better camera, and Blackberry's cameras are, lets face it, crap...
But the day will come when Blackberry ships a 5MP camera phone, and that day, if u don't step up, you will have, at least, one less user... (Yeah I'm talking about myself)
Advantages and Disadvantages of BlackBerry Messenger
BlackBerry Messenger can be a definite asset, if you want to exchange messages with other Blackberry users. With it, you can:
- Carry on a real-time conversation with friends and colleagues in several different locations -- or carry on several conversations simultaneously. (Ovi contacts does it)
- Chat with a group. (Ovi contacts doesnt)
- Send and receive an unlimited number of messages worldwide for free with no per-message charge. (Ovi contacts does it)
- Get messages without filling up your inbox. (Ovi contacts does it)
- Know whether a buddy is online, available or busy.(Ovi contacts does it)
- Let your contacts know your own availability for instant messaging. (Ovi contacts does it)
- Manage log-in and contacts as you would if you were using an IM program from your PC. (Ovi contacts does it)
- Continue using other programs and send and receive e-mails while BlackBerry Messenger is running. (Ovi contacts does it)
- Invite someone to join your buddy list and start communicating without setting up a separate IM account. (Ovi contacts doesn't, to have all my contacts on my phone, i must use different IM services such ass WLMSN, and Facebook Chat)
- Be notified by a specific ringtone or vibration setting each time a message arrives from a particular person (Ovi contacts doesnt)
Hey @kristian if you wanna know more about BB Messenger, you and your team should really get some BBs in order to learn from it and compete with it.
To know more, check out this link:
http://communication.howstuffworks.com/blackberry-messenger.htm/printabl...
I think nokia should DROP the Ovi brand and just call everything NOKIA, as Nokia Mail, Nokia Messenger (Ovi Contacts), Nokia Maps, Nokia Suit (Ovi suit), cause it creates confusion, I've been asking all my friends if they know what Ovi was, and only 2 out 10 knew about it.
Nokia is not campaigning enough with Ovi, what a big mistake, they want to compete without letting people know what they are offering, I'm a geek, i know about Ovi because I was searching for IM alternatives and I stumbled upon the Ovi apps and Beta Labs, there was no advertising that led me to them.
I actually tried some of my BB friends to get them to use Google talk, and some of them told me: "what for? its too much trouble..."
Oh if Nokia only knew...
1. Uniting other accounts under one ovi account:
You log in to ovi, and it logs you in to other networks. And it syncs with other networks and it transparently choses to connect through other protocols if ovi isn't available. I just want to connect to my friend (and maybe see a little icon, what protocol is used) not to the network and to a account in that network...
2. Cooperate more with other companys that deliver IM clients/networks. Throw them a bone. Maybe add commercial banners to the connection, persuade them that they do not need to put as much money into developing new mobile apps. All they need to do is cooperate, and with lower cost nokia could get the ICQ/Yahoo/GG ect. functionality (and i mean full functionality not only limited text) and those providers will get more users. And the end client will get what he needs. After all "nokia connecting people" not other nokias (ew. Google). I live in Poland, and here people use different communicators, but the most popular is gadu-gadu (http://www.gadu-gadu.pl/) and basically if a communication platform dosent handle gadu-gadu it is useless. My Girl and I also use Gtalk and some of my friends also use jabber, but it is impossible to convince everybody that GG (short for gadu-gadu) is an old and unpopular (around the world that is) protocol. Because everybody here has to have at least a second account in gg to be able to talk with others. Another reason is the popularity of Nimbuzz app, that follows these concepts.
Conclusion: Nokia should connect people under one account. You log in to nokia account and it automatically logs you to your other accounts. this way you will discreetly drag people away from their communicators into nokia's ovi contacts.
3. go further in the way of making everything just work, and stop wasting the programmers time on another functionality that can be done. Make it transparent to the user. I mean: one phone book, the default is connet to John Smith. And the phone chooses the best way (GSM, Ovi, Google GG, i don't care what) it should be of course changeable in preferences and shown, or rather indicated what way is used, but it rely should just work! Or give the impression of just working, and not "My nokia can do this and that, that and i can send my location to another nokia, but i cant do the stuff that is rely important to me (talk or even text with GG, Call somebody not using GSM network, because i have wifi in my apartment, so why shouldn't I. I can of course do it with some 3rd patry app, but that's kinda misses the whole point. because it is a 3rd party app and not a native (or at least a native like) functionality.
Simple:
1. Allow all nokia phones to use ovi contact
2. Include the option of send files to all phones (I have a N97, withy the latest version, and I cannot send files to another N97 with the latest version too)
3. Include the option of send a new picture, taken from the camera
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I think next 3 features you have to include will be.
1. Support for more in clients Gtalk, yahoo, live, skype, aim, and xmpp clients for official use and group chat feature.
2. Next feature can be Voip support for Im clients.
3. This may be File, Photo Sending feature.
By the way, great application, i heartly like. I hope you will do something. We are waiting for these Feature
contact import! its essential
great system but i am not going to type all my contacts in.
Mixed-mode chatting: SMS to IM, IM to SMS; using the IM threaded conversation view; with the user able to set which mode takes primary
Protection software