Bi-Modal Mobile Instant Text Messaging and Voice Application

Technorati Profile

Yahoo! recently announced Yahoo! Go which extends instant text messaging, email, and other online services onto mobile phones. Prominent technology business publications such as Business 2.0 also discussed the web 2.0 evolution of instant text messaging towards instant voice and video messaging. While the trend is clearly towards more and more online services onto mobile devices, one real challenge is how such applications can be adapted to the mobile handset form factor and usage modes while on the go. On the PC, the keyboard is definitely a more natural interface for instant text messaging compared to plugging in a headset for voice. On a mobile phone, the handset is a more natural interface for voice compared to typing long text messages via T9.

For me, instant text messaging is a great way to spontaneously interact with others online. If I am handling multiple tasks, it gives me the flexibility to interact with multiple people simultaneously without the need to make voice calls and avoid the discomfort of voice silence as I pause between tasks. However, voice calls on the other hand provide far richer interactions and get things done far quicker and there is less likelihood of coming across with the wrong tone.

But while instant text messaging is a great tool on the PC, there are more limitations on a mobile phone with a constrained screen size and keypad, especially if I happen to be driving. This is where a voice call might be easier on a mobile phone compared to plugging in the headset into my notebook computer and talking through a VOIP client.

In terms of cost, few applications can beat the economics of instant text messaging with presence context except when you have to be mobile or you need the richer interaction context available on voice chat session. A bi-modal mobile application that combines voice chat with the low cost of instant text messaging will allow the user to pick and choose the optimal mode of communications.  This provides the best of both worlds.