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Definition - What is Bump?

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Bump is a free software program (app) that allows two phones to transfer contact information when the phone owners "bump" hands. In order to work, each phone owner must have the application and each phone must be sensitive to motion (have an accelerometer).

To bump, the phone owners must each open the application, approve the information they select to share and tilt their phones at the same time.  Usually, the phone owners perform the tilt by "bumping" the phones gently together. Because the application is already open, the phone's motion sends a signal to Bump's server. The server uses complex algorithms to match the first signal with another bump signal sent at the exact same time from the same location. If the server finds a match, it sends a preview of the data to be shared to each of the phones. Both people must accept the data before any data is downloaded to the phone. 

Exchanging contact information with Bump is a popular digital alternative to exchanging traditional business cards. It can also be used to exchange photos or accept the other person as a Facebook friend. 

 

Learn more:

Bump is a popular app for the Apple iPhone.

This was last updated in March 2010
Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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