WhitePages Official App Arrives in the HP App Catalog 53
As a company that has serviced millions of Americans throughout it's history, and is one of the more well known names in every household, it comes with a big win to see WhitePages bring their mobile application to the HP webOS App Catalog. With a little help from a developer that is familiar to the webOS Community, James Harris of Flash Cards fame, they've created a contact lookup app that pulls from a database that covers 90% of all people and businesses in the US. Unlike the WhitePages apps built for Android and iOS, though, the webOS flavored version even comes with a bit of homebrew goodness that integrates into other applications and services that come with the platform.
This is, of course, great news for HP's webOS. Having a company of this size and value show this kind of excitement for the platform, with one of the leaders now sporting a Pre, gives us more hope that other companies are following suit. But not only will these companies bring official apps to the Catalog, they'll officially support homebrew products as well, such as this one from WhitePages. It's a timely release as well, stated as coming to support the release of both the Veer 4G and TouchPad which are soon to be released. At least someone is marketing for the Veer, right?
Hop on over the break to read the official press release and get more info about what WhitePages plans to do with their app now that it's being brought into the webOS Ecosystem. It's exciting, and we don't want you to miss any of the details.
We'll update this post with a link and a quick review as soon as the app goes live in the catalog.
New HP webOS app delivers local search for people and businesses, location-aware Store Locator, Caller ID lookup and contact updates for any webOS device.
SEATTLE – May 12, 2011— WhitePages (http://www.whitepages.com) today announced the availability of a new on-the-go directory app for HP webOS in support of the launch of HP Veer 4G from AT&T(1) on May 15th, 2011 and this summer’s release of the HP TouchPad. Available on any HP webOS device running webOS 1.4.1 or higher, the new app offers webOS enthusiasts quick access to clear and concise contact information for people and businesses—addresses, phone numbers, maps and driving directions, website link, hours of operation for popular stores and ‘save to contacts’ functionality to keep phone address books up to date.(2, 3)
“Our mobile strategy is to make the WhitePages directory available to as many consumers as possible, no matter what device or operating system they may use,” said Bret Moore, general manager of WhitePages Mobile. “We were one of the first companies to aggressively place a bet on Android and now with the forthcoming launches of HP’s Veer and TouchPad devices and overall demand from our customers, we expect great things from HP over the coming years.”
WhitePages has reached an audience of over 11 million mobile users through its top 10 iPhone and Android reference apps, as well as its popular iPad, BlackBerry, m.whitepages.com, and text LOOKUP mobile offerings. The addition of webOS was driven by consumer demand, as well as the openness and unique capabilities of the platform, which gives developers plenty of room to innovate.
The new HP webOS app is loaded with popular WhitePages mobile features:
- Mobile People Search: Immediate access to the most comprehensive source of phone numbers and addresses. WhitePages’ database includes contact information for over 200 million people – that’s 90 percent of the US population.
- Local Business Search: By detecting user location, WhitePages’ easy to use business search provides fast results for nearby businesses by name or by category.
- Location Aware Store Locator: Popular stores are automatically suggested based on device location, with one-tap access to over 1 million verified businesses to find the best results fast.
- Reverse Phone Lookup: Putting a name to unknown numbers with ease, standard WhitePages search finds landlines and businesses, and premium search options are available for cell phones and other hard to find numbers.
- Save to Contacts: Add caller name, address and number to the phone’s address book with just one tap.
The new WhitePages app is deeply integrated within the HP device experience thanks to the innovative capabilities of the webOS platform, including:
Integration with ‘Just Type’ webOS universal search to easily find and update phone numbers, email and physical addresses not already in users’ phone address books.
A groundbreaking new cross-linking capability that allows app developers and merchants to use a simple “W” icon to populate order forms and delivery forms with WhitePages listing information within their own application. The FTD Mobile Florist and YouView Visual Voicemail webOS applications are supporting this today, with more applications to come.
For HP webOS Homebrew enthusiasts, a patch is now available that enables phone number lookups directly from the phone dialer to identify unknown callers with a single tap.
The WhitePages on-the-go directory app for HP webOS is free and available immediately for download.
About WhitePages
WhitePages is the leading provider of contact information for people and businesses in the U.S. With over 20 million unique monthly users and powering over 2 billion searches on over 1,500 sites including MSN and the United States Postal Service, only WhitePages offers consumers one-click access to more than 200 million adults, also providing them with the ability to edit and control their own listings. The company’s suite of mobile products includes a top-50 mobile website and popular iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry applications that have been downloaded more than 7 million times. WhitePages’ social buying website DealPop offers deals on local businesses around the U.S., at up to 70 percent off retail prices.
For more information, please visit www.whitepages.com, www.dealpop.com or check out the WhitePages blog at blog.whitepages.com.
53 Comments
This is the big app announcement?
It's a big app. And it's very good news cause it's one of the first big apps to really take advantage of the Synergy and other WebOS features. And the fact that there's a patch for it is quite awesome as well. We need more of this. The main apps need to have WebOS features built in.
I was just expecting something... Bigger. Maybe a kindle app.
I agree that it's great that an app takes advantage of unique WebOS features, but it's not a "big app" in these days when there are a kazillion different resources and apps on every platform to look up businesses and their numbers (along with directions, maps, reviews, etc.) while almost nobody looks up personal phone numbers anymore (almost anyone you want to call is already in your email or contacts).
Just look at the speculative thread on the forums and see who guessed it. Or check out other threads about what apps you want to see come to WebOS, and see how many times it was mentioned.
Yes
Interested to know what app that is? We’ll drop you a clue – the developer behind it has over 11 million mobile users and has provedto be one of the Top 10 iPhone and Android apps in the reference categories. Go ahead and guess, you have until Thursday to get it right.
I love it! I'll be honest this isn't what I expected or really wanted. Netflix, Shazam, or maybe a free music downloader would have been nice... All in due time I suppose. Although I do believe due time was a while back haha
Update: The screen goes blurry when I try to scroll around on the page with business search results. Doesn't happen every time, but it happens. No other problems yet.
The introduction for a netflix app would be better paired with the announcement of the TouchPad. The same is also true for a kindle app.
Interesting, but only for USA users... :-(
To users in other countries, no important...
Best Regards...
Don't know if White Pages has a deal to only serve the US or if their database is only US numbers. In this case, there might be a good reason. Flash Cards guy should be able to tell us.
The WhitePages.com service is U.S. only.
Excellent news, necessary app for any OS to be considered a serious contender. Hopefully this turns into a trend.
This is a great app. I added it to Just Type as an open and search application.
Noticed when using just type for person search, the location defaults to the last search performed instead of allowing you to enter new location.
As evidenced by the supper patch to phone log, this app will continue to improve.
You can manually enter a location. When using Just Type, it does use your last location as a default. You can easily backswipe and change it as needed.
We do have some good plans for the future and more patch ideas. I like how you call it a "super patch" :)
Finally! I can stop using the white pages telephone book 20 years ago.
Good to see this app developer was designing in the wings to expand into WebOS. Kind'a makes you think that the playing field for many other companies is going to be huge when they hop on to HP for the ride. Nice start guys!
This is great news, indeed! I hope this means that we can finally do away with Google Maps & YPMobile which are both half-baked IMHO.
EDIT: Nevermind, it loads Google Maps!!! ARGHH!!! Oh well. Maybe we'll get Bing Maps at some point soon, too.
But look at how fast those Google Maps are, and how great they look with the same iOS style, pins, and animations :) We took extra pains to work around the limitations of Google Maps on webOS.
I think its pretty awesome that a larger company is getting in on the homebrew action. I'm not sure how they got in touch with James Harris, but I think its pretty neat that they worked with one of our webOS heros to get the most out of the platform.
its available...downloading now!
Link to the app for those who want it:
http://www.precentral.net/whitepages
Meanwhile, us smaller developers aren't even given the time of day by developer relations and the app review team. Damnit HP/Palm, I shouldn't have to wait a week with my app in limbo in your app review process, while you time the release of this app with a press release!
If you're a small developer or a user of their "legacy" devices, HP/Palm doesn't car about you and won't help you.
Interesting that you chose "Smaller developers". You do know that this app was developed by James Harris, the guy who did FlashCards, right? He is a small developer. White Pages apparently hired him to build their app.
Yeah, white pages hired him. Of course they would give priority to white pages. James Harris would not have had all the press and special app catalog release time if he did the app by himself.
I assure you, I am still a small developer and still have to wait in line like everyone else. We simply took a lot of time planning the launch. App has been ready for many weeks, we just needed to get our ducks in a row to make it a flawless launch. They really do not play favorites when it comes to this.
And we are supporting legacy devices too. The app is 100% 1.4.x+ compatible.
I want to support legacy devices as well. The app I have is 100% capable of supporting legacy devices. Apparently, Palm doesn't want to support legacy devices, so I'm stuck. It's way frustrating.
Email me offline? (erupnu@gmail) I assure you this is not the norm, but maybe I can help. Sometimes it does help to have a few friends, and I am friend to all.
Hmmm... This app would be more appealing if it had a link embedded that would notify the White Pages to stop littering their books on my front doorstep…
Honestly, looking at what was released the last couple of days for Android then looking at people getting all crazy about a white pages app for WebOS is kind of saddening.
-Suntan
Come on--who is getting crazy? It is a good, usable app that has some specifics to webOS. AND, it is an app we didn't have before.
I think he means this teasing and fanfare for what is a minor app in the age of Bing Maps, YPmobile, Yelp, Google Maps, etc.
I think some who have left webOS & some here expect it to catch up overnight or something. There will not be 100,000 new app tonight; however, it is a start.
You call it minor, but if it is in the top 10 on all platforms...hopefully, more announcements to come soon.
AND, fastest google maps has ever loaded on my Pre- (only a second or so) after I clicked on the link. I know, other platforms don't have the google map problem, but we have.
You're conflating two points that have nothing to do with each other.
1) No, I don't expect WebOS to "catch up" overnight. There is no catching up for any platform...not to absolute parity at least. iOS will never have the robust Google apps that Android has. Android will probably never have anywhere near the full breadth of games iOS has. Neither will have Xbox Live, Zune **** or official Microsoft office like WP7. There will always be areas where a platform lags another. The goal is to be "good enough" all around to balance out the weak spots. Not that I was making this point anyway....
2) It IS minor. But any disappointment related to that isn't the fault of the develeoper or WhitePages. It's the fault of HP and UberGizmo or whoever else for not managing expectations realistically. "Nailing" a "top 10" reference app isn't really the sort of thing you want to couple to the launching of a device for mainstream audiences. That's the kind of app you want to mention in a press release with 10 more new apps to show a range of "gets" that prove the App Catalog is alive and well. On its own....well....I don't see Engadget, BGR, or Gizmodo falling over themselves to break this story.
Yeah, for all the teasing, I was expecting something more exciting than a phone book. Oh well.
I heard one tease. I don't expect anyone to jump to the Pre because of this, but still a start.
I also hope they give you & others the support you need in the development & app approval process.
Cheers
Suntan,
You realize WhitePages is an independent service that does not do phonebooks? Those books are provided by local services and your phone company.
Contact your phone company and ask to be put on a do-not-deliver list.
You can opt-out of the WhitePages online directory however. Visit www.whitepages.com for more details.
You realize I was making a sarcastic joke about the level of importance white pages is to me?
Seriously, type anything into google and just add your zip code after it and you will get the same or better information than white pages gives you. Likely getting the results faster than it took to open the whitepages card.
Anyway, yeah we got Whitepages today… huurraah!!!
http://www.androidcentral.com/netflix-finally-releases-android-app-only-...
-Suntan
Is trolling some kind of therapeutic thing or something?
Go ahead and hate, it's your right. Just not sure what you get out of it.
"As a company that has serviced millions of Americans...."
Uh, did you mean 'served'?? "Servicing" one's clients is done by hookers.
If not, well, that could certainly explain why this is such a big announcement.
The Android version looks up the number when someone calls you while it's ringing, that is an amazing thing, helped me a kot. Does this on also do it?
I think it only lets you look up the number from the list of calls in the phone app using the patch, but that would be a nice feature to add to the patch. I don't think it will work on CDMA phones though, since you can't use voice and web at the same time.
Not *yet*...
Access Denied
Access Denied
Access Denied
Access Denied
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Same thing here. All searches result in "Access Denied"
Keep trying. It happened to me this morning, but it works perfectly now.
Give the app a few extra seconds before trying a search. Some Pre-'s are experiencing a little bit of lag pulling some values.
Just relaunch it and it'll be good to go.
We have an update on the way that will work around this.
great, another app. Now we need about 5000 more, some that have any value in Europe, but none we must pay for (not possible from most countries). Sh*t, this taking looooong.
Great app, useful only at US...
Wait it can be downloaded in Mexico but no use for it!
Gives the accesss to buy apps... GIVE US VEER and PRE3!
Sorry, myself and WhitePages has no control over this.
Excellent! Of course, will be great to expand to other Countries in the future, but, a great addition to the app cat. all the same.
Anyone else notice it uses the Google Maps 'pin drop' like on iOS maps vs. the pointer icon?
Spent a lot of time on this actually, so really good to see some notice :)
It's also the fastest Google Maps you will see on webOS.
haha been trying to get YPmobile and they release white pages. Nice!!!
I know it is the norm on forums, but sad that people feel the need to criticize the app and at the same time say they love WebOS. ANYTHING that supports the OS is welcome, and James Harris has contributed a huge amount to this platform.
Thanks James Harris, I hope they paid you well. I hope H/P hires you as a swat team member. Is this Enyo compatible?
Works great with Canadian phone numbers too.
On an unrelated note, I was using my friend's iPhone 4 today. After using a Pre 2 for a couple months, I can never go back to an iPhone. Yay for webOS!