Sidecar

One of the most interesting things about the evolution of smartphones is that while you can do a lot of amazing things with a device that’s essentially a little computer in your pocket, the actual phone part is lagging behind. Sidecar looks to change that, bringing the great capabilities of photos, videos and location services into your mobile phone call experience.

It’s already possible to send photos while you’re on a call, but Sidecar looks to make it easier, reducing the required controls to just a few taps. Even better, though, is the ability to send video to friends while you’re on the phone with them. It’s a feature called “See What I See,” and, like Color, it allows you to share live video. Sidecar will automatically switch your call over to speaker phone when you pull it away from your ear, letting you seamlessly share live video of what you’re seeing while you talk.

You can also share contact information, as well as map locations to help illustrate a point or give directions. This is especially handy for the “Where are you?” moments when you’re having trouble finding friends at meeting spots or when you’re lost.

Sidecar works by making your calls over a data connection using VoIP technology. While you can make free calls to other Sidecar users over a Wi-Fi connection, you won’t be able to do so for international numbers.

But with so many free (yes, free!) capabilities to offer, especially when calling friends with Sidecar and using a Wi-Fi connection, the app is certainly worth checking out.

Reviewed: Jun 26, 2012 | Phil Hornshaw

Also featured on: Best iPhone Apps of 2012…So Far