socialrosiechen: Dial Zero for Android is a great idea (you can skip automated customer service systems!), but so, so poorly implemented

Friday, August 27, 2010

Dial Zero for Android is a great idea (you can skip automated customer service systems!), but so, so poorly implemented

It's such a fantastic concept: a database of customer service numbers with the buttons you need to push to skip the computers (and Indian call centers) to talk to a real, boner fidee Ameerikin who's just positively thrilled to be helping you with your problem. Unfortunately, while one of the best ideas I've ever seen, Dial Zero utterly fails in its implementation.

It makes you wonder if the developer was under the effects of crack -- I mean, how hard is it to make a search box that actually searches? How about removing banner ads that obscure one of the most vital parts of the program? Don't get me started on the Latest Comments and Head-To-Head sections either -- I can't even begin to guess at their purpose.

The sad thing is, Dial Zero for iPhone has a veritable feast of good reviews -- probably because it doesn't include hideous ads on every page of the app. Or maybe because the search function actually works.

But the thing is, despite its abject awfulness, Dial Zero for Android still has a big list of customer service phone numbers. It still has some great tips for skipping the automated service, or how to get a USA-based representative. It even has a few UK numbers (but God help you if you think searching for 'UK' will bring them up...)

And of course it's free. Being free shouldn't excuse submoronic interface design, though.