Bitcoin Apps For IPhone, Android And Windows Phone

Whenever bitcoin reaches mainstream usage, it's likely that people will be paying via their smartphones. So what is the current state of bitcoin apps, We offer reviews of three apps from the top three smartphone platforms: Android, iOS and Windows Phone. This app can import private keys, as well as authenticating to the Blockchain website (through a special "Pairing" process). It also has a QR code with a Blockchain bitcoin wallet address, but it can also generate QR codes with requests for specific amounts of bitcoin. You can also send bitcoin by typing (or pasting) an address or by scanning a QR code. It also has more basic and very useful features like displaying a list of your transactions, and a PIN lock to make sure nobody accesses your wallet. You can also pick a fiat currency to display on the main screen of the app to show what your bitcoin balance is worth. The official Mt. Gox app for Android takes you through a tricky process of authenticating to the website by creating an API key which is put onto your smartphone by scanning a QR code. However, once this is done, the app consistently crashes when opened.

At least it did on our Nexus 4 which was running stock Android 4.2.2. We couldn't avoid mentioning this one, but it has to be with a warning to avoid it. Bitcoin Wallet by Andreas Schildbach is the definitive bitcoin wallet app for Android. If you have a bitcoin wallet created by another app (e.g. bitcoin-qt on the desktop), it can be imported with ease via the backup menu. However, this is not compatible with the backup files created by the Blockchain app. The app features a pivoting list of your transactions, switching between received, sent and all. It also allows you to create and manage multiple receiving addresses. It also supports QR scanning for sending and requesting bitcoin. This is an app for those who are avid bitcoin watchers and need up-to-the-minute prices. This doesn't give you an app or a widget. Instead, it provides a permanent entry in Android's notification shade with the current exchange rate in your chosen currency.

Conveniently, it not only shows what 1 BTC is worth in your fiat currency, but it also shows how much one unit of your fiat currency is with in BTC. E.g. One pound sterling is worth around 16.16 mBTC. This is the official Blockchain app for iOS - again made by Qkos Services Ltd. Android version. However, this app has a distinctive style that sets it apart. Once paired, the transaction list looks identical to that of the Blockchain website, including tapping transaction values to toggle between BTC and fiat values. The lower toolbar lets you access pages for sending and receiving payments. Fortunately, there is an option to send payments by scanning a QR code too. The toolbar also lets you access your settings page on the Blockchain website. As such, this is my favourite app for handling bitcoin on iOS devices. This free app for iOS lets you keep your finger on the pulse of the cryptocurrency world.

The first of four screens is a calculator where you may enter your holdings in several cryptocurrencies, and the app will calculate the total USD value. The next screen shows you regularly updated prices of bitcoin to USD and euro on several exchanges; it also lists Litecoin, Novacoin and Terracoin. The "Details" screen shows the high, low and volume (etc) of USD trades for bitcoin on Mt. Gox. The final screen shows Bitcoin and Litecoin news from several sources including Reddit and The Bitcoin Magazine. It doesn't include CoinDesk yet, tut tut! With only two wallet apps on iOS, the options are limited. BitcoinViewer is a very limited form of wallet app in that, when supplied with a bitcoin address, it will display a QR code, current balance with the total sent and received bitcoin amounts. Fortunately, you can monitor more than one address too. The other section of the app shows a copy of the charts from Bitcoinity.