ABContacts iPhone App with Group Text Available

Redbits has announced the release and immediate availability of ABContacts 1.5.1, an update to their popular contact manager application for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. With the release of iOS4 new Apple firmware for the iPhone, we updated the app to use some of the new iOS4 features: in-app SMS and multitasking.

Version 1.5.1 is now capable of sending texts to groups on iOS4 devices. In-app SMS is used to send messages to single recipients or groups without leaving the app. Multitasking is used to keep the app running when a phone call or other activity is done; this way the app is ready to use in no time when the user starts it again.

ABContacts main features are:
* Contacts and Groups Management
* User defined Smart Groups
* Fast T9 dialer
* Log of recent made phone calls
* Favorites photo dialer
* Highly configurable can work with other apps to call, send texts and emails


The app has five windows:
* Contacts
* Smart Groups
* Dialer
* Recent Calls
* Favorites

With Smart Groups you can create dynamic groups based on rules. Contacts will be filed in smart groups automatically. There are five different types of rules and they work on first name, last name, company, notes, job title, department, city, state, country, birthday and events fields. Rules can be combined to create very powerful filters. Moreover, Outlook users will be able to create smart groups on the phone that finally does not alter how contacts are shown in Outlook.

The dialer is associated with a smart search feature. You can search contacts using the dialer keypad. Spaces and special chars are supported as well as non english letters. Phonetic info are used if present. You can also speed dial the first nine favorites by pressing and holding the corresponding key down. Favorites has two view modes: list and photos. You can add, use and manage favorites with the list mode and use them in the photo view.

Search and listing features:
* The search bar will search notes, first and last name, company, job titles and departments (configurable to work on words or full search)
* Optionally show contact pictures
* Company view shows contacts grouped by company
* Contact filtering to show a reduced set of contacts; can filter by company, city, state, country and part of notes
* Shows upcoming birthdays
* Shows upcoming events
* Shows unfiled contacts
* Shows company, job title and department on the contact list
* Optionally show company in big font and contact in small font
* Optionally uses phonetic informations when sorting


Contacts and groups features:
* Smart groups based on rules
* Add new contact in one fast screen
* Quick action to email to groups of contacts (using TO or BCC)
* Quick action to send sms to groups of contacts (using iOS4 -or- compatible apps, see below)
* Quick actions to make call, send email and send sms to a contact faster
* Send contact information to others by email
* Create, rename and delete group of contacts
* Edit contact native group membership on one screen
* Assign and remove contacts to native groups with a fast and simple interface
* Create, edit and remove contacts with the same user interface as the contacts built-in app (remove button is in a different place)
* Mail and SMS are sent using the configured applications, can be the built-in ones or others
* A lot of customizable options in the settings

Supported Languages:
* US English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish

Pricing and Availability:
ABContacts 1.5.1 is $4.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Productivity category. ABContacts has been downloaded by more than 80,000 users since 2008.

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