In my last post, I spoke about MagiCall, a software program that enables smartphone and pocket PC owners to manage who calls and contacts them. I really think this is a nifty application. I don’t get prank calls too often but the other day, I got a call saying that I needed to pick up Chinese food that I didn’t order from a restricted number. Turns out it was one of my friends, but I actually ended up calling the operator and Verizon Wireless to see if I could find out who called me. I was told that I had to wait until the end of the month for my phone bill to come and even then, there was no guarantee I’d see the number, depending on how the called chose to block and call me. It would have saved me some grief to have had MagiCall (and a smartphone, for that matter).
This software is a godsend to mankind because we really can seem to get no privacy these days. We’re constantly bombarded with mail from NYU, Facebook messages from my friends, text messages and calls, but with software like this, we’re able to maintain some modicum of solitude from being constantly contacted.
Social norms are constantly changing around us and advancements in technology just happens to play a large part in these changes. I wrote a couple weeks ago that the smartphone itself changes the way we interact in that it dwindles down face-to-face conversation as it becomes replaced by instant messaging. I think MagiCall can also change the face of communication. Technology is supposed to facilitate our lives (even though it often causes more destruction than assistance) and this new software helps us to better exercise control over the communication we have on a day-to-day basis.
I found an article about how Japan only recently got the iPhone this past July. This shows that the smartphone revolution has a global perspective with its target market. Unfortunately for us, MagiCall can’t prevent the government from keeping tabs on us, it’s sort of comforting to know that privacy can be increased for everyone worldwide, all the while changing the way we communicate by making the internet accessible to us with a simple touch.
For you smartphone users out there, MagiCall can be yours for just $25.
