Oops I'm Late Calls Ahead When You're Running Behind

[Rocco Augusto]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.oopsimlate.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.oopsimlate.com/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Free application Oops I'm Late uses information from your Windows Mobile phone's GPS in conjunction with your calendar to determine whether you're going to make an appointment on time. If you're not, the application can send an SMS, Twitter, or Facebook message to the attendees of your meeting letting them know that you're running late but on your way&mdash;including your ETA, so people don't have to wait around twiddling their thumbs until you arrive."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com//zt/auto/1223396214.usr8.png" /></p><p>How cool does this application sound?! I was browsing around Lifehacker, one of my favorite sites to visit, when I ran across this free download. This has to be one of the most handy free downloads I have come across in a while. If you happen to own a Windows Mobile handset that is GPS capable then there is no reason not to have this application on your phone!&nbsp; Since my handset doesn't have GPS, I am unable to test this application for you guys, but if anyone tries it out please let us know what you think! Keep in mind the free version of this application is ad supported. If you like it, please support the developer and buy this application!</p>

[Pony99CA]

I was browsing around Lifehacker, one of my favorite sites to visit, when I ran across this free download. This has to be one of the most handy free downloads I have come across in a while. If you happen to own a Windows Mobile handset that is GPS capable then there is no reason not to have this application on your phone!
It certainly sounds cool, but how practical is it? In a business environment, I'm not sure. Twitter and Facebook notifications might be good for friends, but probably not so much for colleagues. (I don't use either.)

Texting might work -- assuming I have the cell phone number for my boss. I don't.

It might be better if they combined this with something like SlyDial (http://slydial.com/) and played a prerecorded message into the voicemail.

On the social side of things, I'm not convinced how "disruptive" this will really be. If you're usually punctual, this gives you once less reason to be on time, so I wonder if it would actually lessen the desire to avoid being late. If you're usually running late (like me), I wouldn't even use it because it would just emphasize how often I'm late. :o

Finally, when GPS location awareness becomes more commonplace, this won't be necessary at all. Everybody who matters will be allowed to see your position on a map and that system will let them know your ETA.

Since my handset doesn't have GPS, I am unable to test this application for you guys, but if anyone tries it out please let us know what you think!
It sounds like the program doesn't literally require the phone to have GPS internally. If you have a Bluetooth GPS receiver, it should work, too.

Steve

[OopsImLate]

First, thanks to Rocco for writing an excellent post.

It certainly sounds cool, but how practical is it? In a business environment, I'm not sure. Twitter and Facebook notifications might be good for friends, but probably not so much for colleagues. (I don't use either.)

Texting might work -- assuming I have the cell phone number for my boss. I don't.

It might be better if they combined this with something like SlyDial (http://slydial.com/) and played a prerecorded message into the voicemail.

Finding a confidant that can be discrete is the whole point. Possibly a secretary that is running Twitter or Facebook all day. Oops I'm Late! Professional also supports email as well as phone. For example, how many times have you heard, "Call me when you get to the corner of X and Y?"


On the social side of things, I'm not convinced how "disruptive" this will really be. If you're usually punctual, this gives you once less reason to be on time, so I wonder if it would actually lessen the desire to avoid being late. If you're usually running late (like me), I wouldn't even use it because it would just emphasize how often I'm late. :o

Finally, when GPS location awareness becomes more commonplace, this won't be necessary at all. Everybody who matters will be allowed to see your position on a map and that system will let them know your ETA.


Finding your friends on a map is cool but is somewhat big brother. Tech that pushes notifications based upon location is more pro-active and has less privacy risks.


It sounds like the program doesn't literally require the phone to have GPS internally. If you have a Bluetooth GPS receiver, it should work, too.

Steve

That's correct; I used Bluetooth GPS w/my old Cingular 2125 vs. my AT&T Tilt these days. Both are functional although the Tilt is obviously faster.:D

May you always arrive at the right time.

Alex
http://www.oopsimlate.com

[Rocco Augusto]

It certainly sounds cool, but how practical is it? In a business environment, I'm not sure. Twitter and Facebook notifications might be good for friends, but probably not so much for colleagues. (I don't use either.)

I currently use Twitter to do a lot of communicating with my clients. A lot of my clients are younger individuals and spend all day on services like Facebook and Twitter so something like this would be awesome for what I do. The Twitter and Facebook notifications are the main reason I am so excited for this application :)

[Pony99CA]

Oops I'm Late! Professional also supports email as well as phone. For example, how many times have you heard, "Call me when you get to the corner of X and Y?"
I didn't look at the non-free versions. E-mail and phone are great. Too bad I'd have to pay for that, but I understand why. You're not a charity. :)

But Oops I'm Late won't support that "Call me" scenario, will it? It only works based on how long it will take to get to your destination based on your current position, right? Is there some way you can have it send notifications when you reach a particular point whether you're late or not?

Finding your friends on a map is cool but is somewhat big brother. Tech that pushes notifications based upon location is more pro-active and has less privacy risks.
If you can restrict which people know your location and when they can access that information, it's not Big Brother at all -- it's an individual decision. (Of course, I don't think the infrastructure is there yet.)

And while Oops I'm Late is certainly more proactive, my feeling is that if somebody cares where I am, it's up to them to look me up. Oops I'm Late is good for what letting people know you're late, but I probably wouldn't choose it if somebody wanted to know where I was.

It reminds me of another application I read about, Propro Prompt (http://www.proxpro.com), that checks your appointments and reminds you when you have to leave to make it on time. That's even more proactive, but unfortunately only seems to be available on the BlackBerry for now.

Steve

[OopsImLate]

I didn't look at the non-free versions. E-mail and phone are great. Too bad I'd have to pay for that, but I understand why. You're not a charity. :)

But Oops I'm Late won't support that "Call me" scenario, will it? It only works based on how long it will take to get to your destination based on your current position, right? Is there some way you can have it send notifications when you reach a particular point whether you're late or not?

Thanks. That is an interesting feature idea. Right now, it does work upon ETA only.

And while Oops I'm Late is certainly more proactive, my feeling is that if somebody cares where I am, it's up to them to look me up. Oops I'm Late is good for what letting people know you're late, but I probably wouldn't choose it if somebody wanted to know where I was.

To extend the corner of X and Y idea, if the boss or the client is seeing one doing errands, i.e. dry cleaning, dog walking, doughnuts, etc. on the way to the “call me when you get there”– that might be an issue.
Oops I’m Late also doesn't send one's speed or one's location for this reason, only location information such as relative distance and flexible ETA to the destination.


It reminds me of another application I read about, Propro Prompt (http://www.proxpro.com), that checks your appointments and reminds you when you have to leave to make it on time. That's even more proactive, but unfortunately only seems to be available on the BlackBerry for now.

Steve

Thanks again. I'm not sure alarms on when to go are for me though; it reminds me of hearing the Star Trek Red Alert klaxon and the time I had to wait on a slow inkjet printer while having to go from Costa Mesa to Burbank in afternoon traffic.

BTW: You can also use the software while walking, taking the bus, above ground train, etc. :D