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This latest app review covers iSmartDialer, an app that in general makes it quicker and easier to search for contacts from the dialer. It also allows you to search for a contact and send either an SMS or email — from the same dialer. In short, iSmartDialer makes using the default dialer quite a bit easier and more convenient.

I should preface this review with a quick note. This app is available in two versions and can be found in Cydia (for jailbroken iPhones) and in the official App Store. My testing and review was with the Cydia version.

I will also say that this review is long overdue, mainly because I said that I would check it out, but honestly was not all that excited initially. My lack of excitement was because of two reasons. First, I am not a heavy phone user, yes that may sound strange coming from an iPhone user, however I generally use my phone more for messaging, data and entertainment. Second, I am not really a huge fan of shaking my phone to activate a feature.

That said, I am more than happy I gave this app a chance, not only has it proven to be useful, but it will remain on my iPhone.

So, just what does iSmartDialer do — in short, it does plenty. However, just to name a few features:

• Integration with the default iPhone dialer.
• A Smart logic search that will show your favorites, recent calls and speed dial contacts first when you are searching.
• Ability to activate search mode by shaking or tilting your iPhone.
• And for people like myself that don’t like to shake, you can also activate search mode by golding the “#” key for two seconds.
• Up and Down arrows that make scrolling though search results easier.
• An auto-complete mode when you begin dialing.
• A speed dial that is activated by simply holding down a numeric number for two seconds.
• Multi-launguage support
• The ability to make calls and send an SMS or email all from the same location.

The iSmartDialer app also has an advanced setting screen that offers plenty of configuration options that allow you to control how you want the app to work.

As for my experience with iSmartDialer: Overall, this was entirely positive. This app is hard to review though, or at least hard to put down in writing because there are so many great features.

When using the Cydia version, you will install the app and then get an iSmartDialer icon on your Springboard. That icon is only used to control the settings and the app itself is integrated with the default dialer.

I will say that this app also took (at least for me) a little getting used to. For example when you are in Search mode a keypad press will search by letter, and when not in Search mode a keypad press will use the number. If you are not in Search mode and bring up a number, it will (assuming you did not turn this feature off) begin to auto-complete the number you are dialing.

Additionally, when you are in Search mode, you will notice an Up and Down arrow in the bottom left of the keypad, these arrows are used to scroll through the search results. You will also notice (after you find your search result of choice) a little icon that will allow you to send the SMS (on the #1 key) or email (on the * key).

Basically, this app does what it is expected to, and I would say that it does it well. It does however require a little time to get used to, however given a chance it will make you wonder why Apple did not offer this functionality in the first place.

Cydia and App Store differences: As you would expect, there will be some differences. I have not used the App Store version, so I may miss something here. However, the main difference is that the App Store version has a unique icon and is not integrated with the default iPhone dialer. Aside from that is appears to still have the same search by shake or tilt as well as Speed Dial, multi-language support, auto-complete and the ability to send an SMS message or email from within the dialer.

If given the choice between the two, I would opt for the jailbroken version simply because it is integrated with the default dialer. That said I think either version will be well worth the money spent to purchase it.

As mentioned earlier, iSmartDialer is available in both the App Store and Cydia. The iSmartDialer app is selling for $3.99 in the App Store and $7.99 in Cydia.

• More information for the Cydia version can be found at: http://ismartdialer.com/
• More information for the App Store version can be found at: http://ismartdialerapp.com/ and iSmartDialer (App Store link)