For someone with an unlimited texting package, the Vext iPhone app ($1.99) offers very little of value unless you want another way to send out an email to your contacts.
But for those that are stifled by texting limits, Vext provides somewhat of a solution to your woes by creating a system where you can “text” photos, audio, or actual text to someone’s email address.
Basically, Vext is like sending emails with voice capabilities as a bonus. I don’t say that as a bad thing, but certainly your mileage may vary as to how useful that premise is for you as a user. Part of the joy of texting is knowing that even if your contact is out and about, they’ll receive the message on their phone whenever they check it.
Because Vext connects not to phone numbers but to email addresses, unless your contact has their email address synced to their phone, you’re basically just sending an email from your phone to a friend that may or may not see the email in time. It feels very mid-90s for such a technologically advanced app.
The voice-texting is the coolest feature of the app by far, however, allowing you to send quick voice messages to your contact’s email addresses. This seems like a more practical use of Vext; when you want to send your friend a voice message he can savor at his email address later.
Unfortunately, you cannot send both a voice and text Vext simultaneously to your contact, so you always have to choose whether you want a voice, text, or photo message.
Additionally, Vext doesn’t seem to sync to your email contacts; people I have emailed on my phone are not listed in the Vext directory, and they're not added in until after you’ve Vexted them manually, either. Vext does keep logs of your conversation, so if you did have to send a message to an address manually, you’ll at least have it up for quick reference, but it still feels like a step back technologically.
Again, I don’t mean to sound like I think this is a lousy app. For the right user base, such as someone who wants to send voice messages or text without going over their limit, this is a great app. But for someone who spends half of their day texting away, this just feels like sending mobile emails and I don’t need an app for that.
lukedetering
Actually, the account names are based on email addresses, the app does not depend on emails, that is a misconception.
If two vext users message one another there is no email exchanged. Not every mobile user has an iphone, so if by chance the user you would like to vext doesn't have an iphone or a vext account they will still receive the message instead of it disappearing into nothingness.
Your second error is stating that the app does not use your contact list. The app does in fact link to your local contact list. Those that keep emails for users in their contact list, they will be able to auto select the recipient after a few characters are entered.
The purpose of the app is to provide short voice messages, and the users who love texting and photo messages are not left out. Typing on the iphone is a pain, sending short voice messages is a very convenient feature and cuts down on communication errors involved in texting.
The issue is really with apple not allowing apps to use the sms service to send messages. Thus we are forced to use third party services and separate identifications (emails). This is also why the service is unlimited. In a perfect world this app would've used sms and phone numbers. For those who want a beautiful interface and the enjoyment of convenient short voice messages, keep updated contact lists and who don't feel safe texting and driving, Vext is perfect.