Hello

I would like to work with you to develop an iPhone App

The need for this app arose this morning - Easter Sunday. I want to send a message to a number of friends and family saying "Happy Easter". However, if I just send that message they will know I have sent a bulk SMS and they will be almost offended - I'd probably be best not to send one at all !!

If i could type a message that was personalised, like this: "Happy Easter, " then everyone who received it would think it was meant specifically for them and they would appreciate it a lot more

I have a blog and I want to occasionally send a message to friends and others letting them know when I have updated my blog. I want to be able to type a message like this: "Hey , I just wrote a new article all about hang-gliding. It's got some photos you'll love. Check it out!"

I think that other people would have a similar use for such an app. What do you think?

Below are the details that I'd like you to address in your proposal. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come back with ... !

PROJECT OBJECTIVE
Develop an iPhone App that has the ability to send bulk SMS to a group of contacts and personalise each message by extracting the first name from each contact in the list of contacts from the iPhone

BASIC SPECS
The App must use graphics that look just like the native iPhone SMS and Contacts Apps so that people don't have to learn a brand new interface. They must feel comfortable using it right away

This App will ONLY have the ability to insert 

The App will need to provide users with the ability to insert somewhere in the message by just clicking an 'insert tag' key while they are typing the message

The App will allow the user to select from individual contacts or groups of contacts

The App will allow users to prepare the Groups inside the app by selecting Contacts from the native contact list in their iPhone

The App will automatically insert the first name of each contact into the message at the location that the user selects to insert the tag

The SMS will come from the phone number of the user. If the recipients of the SMS reply they will simply reply to the phone number of the user

This app will not use a server for distributing the messages. All messages will come from the iPhone

IN YOUR PROPOSAL
I would like to see the following things in your proposal:

(1) Please briefly describe, in your own words, what this project is about. Please include anything that you think I may have missed or anything that you think is important to consider. This will show me if your thoughts are aligned with the objectives that I have set out above

(2) I have not developed an iPhone App before. Could you please show me that you know what the process is by telling me the key steps involved and the likely time frames as well

(3) Would you please point me to the following: (a) examples of apps you have created before; and (b) examples of apps that you will copy from to create this new one (they don't necessarily have to be yours but you must have an example that you are working from to show me that there is a guide or a precedent that will direct your work)

YOU ...
You don't have the be the world's best iPhone app developer but you must have developed at least one before and you must honestly know your way around getting it approved

You must be able to design something that is VERY EASY TO USE and something that people will enjoy using

I'm keen to build something that people like. You must want to do the same thing

TERMS
I would expect to own all of the IP from the project (source code, accounts created, names, brand, domains etc)


Thanks a lot for your time. I'm looking forward to seeing what you propose

With kind regards

Wayne Butcher