From the Department of Why the Heck Didn’t I Think of That? comes SayWhat, a new Android app that “lets 
you introduce the subject of your call, set 
the mood and check the availability of the 
person you’re calling before or while placing
 the call.”

Check out the 1-minute video below. Then spend at least 3 minutes afterwards kicking yourself with regret at not being as swift and creative as these Israeli entrepreneurs.

(HT: Springwise. Of course.)

11 Responses to “Should phone calls have subject lines?”

  1. Dan Ryan says:

    Daniel,

    What most of us do not realize is that our phone calls already have an implied subject line.

    Caller ID has become so prevalent that I know I screen calls based on who is calling.

    There are some I look forward to speaking with and those I know I can get back to.

    Adding a more specific subject line is great, but we all need to think about the “implied” subject line we create each day with our interactions with others.

    Dan Ryan

  2. Nate says:

    … Or just text.

  3. Deb says:

    Would the subject for telemarketers be something like:
    “I’d like to intrude on what you’re currently doing.” ?

    • Ha! I’m sure they’d find some way to turn it into annoying spam… again. But that’s no reason not to do it. There is so much useful information that could be embedded by default in the digital “header” of a phone call. Contact information, Web links, call-back information with alternate numbers. We just have to get beyond the limits of old, “dumb call” analogue telco thinking.

  4. Feng says:

    When I grew up, we could just walk up to friends’ houses and ring the doorbell. Then we need to make appointment to visit by making a phone call. After email, it became rude to call people out of blue. You are supposed to check their availability by email first. How far will this take us?

    I propose the opposite. Let people advertise their status online or by pulling. If they indicate they can take calls now, than by all means just call. They can always hang up on you, right?

  5. Kenneth Vogt says:

    How about this: “Hi Dan, the reason I’m calling is…” It works if we reach the person as well as if we leave a message. Geez, we do so much dancing around. Communication is inhibited by a lack of genuine but direct good intent. We are so in love with politically correct standards that we can’t even say what is there. Like here: http://smallbiztrends.com/2013/01/politically-correct-euphemisms-must-die.html

  6. Nate says:

    The real future of communication is some type of “one stop shop” where you can get all your email, phone messages, texts, Facebook messages, Tweets,… etc. all in one location.

    I had heard a rumor that Zuckerberg and Facebook were working on this. Google phone is somewhat close too.

    Sounds like a good way to make some $$!!

  7. Clearly some app developer has too much time on their hands. Do I really want to go through all the trouble prior to typing in 10 numbers to identify a topic or urgency? I think not.

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  9. Very cool app and a fantastic solution.

    Why is so hard for people who post to say this is good stuff?

    Great find; great post as always!