Blue Box vs SignalDesk
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Blue Box
Encode and decode DTMF signals using your device's microphone or keypad. Play back tone sequences with adjustable settings, and save them for easy recall. Explore various tone systems, including trunk control and coin signals, for educational and utility purposes.
- Encode/decode DTMF signals
- Adjustable tone, delay, and volume
- US, UK, and European tone systems
- Multi-frequency and trunk control tones
- Coin tone sequences (Red Box mode)
- Custom tone creation
- Save and organize sequences
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Blue Box is utility for encoding and decoding DTMF (Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency) or Touch Tone signals. Generate tones by using the phone style keypad or decipher tones using the device’s microphone. Tone combinations can be played back with adjustable tone, delay and pause lengths and volume. Choose from US, UK and Europe based systems. Enable Multi-frequency tones, which were a precursor to DTMF. Additional trunk control signals will be available including KP, ST1, ST2, ST3, KP/ST2. Additional tones include the Dial Tone, Ring Back Tone, Busy Signal and 2600Hz. A comma can be used as a pause character to provide extra time between tones during playback. Save and organize any number of sequences for easy recall using the Favorites feature. Choose numbers from your contacts to display and play back tones. Share an encoded or decoded number with the Phone, FaceTime or Messages app. Use Red Box mode to play coin tone sequences, including 5¢, 10¢ and 25¢ for the US system and 10p and 50p for European systems. Create a custom tone with control over individual frequencies and volumes. The custom tone can consist of any number of on and off pulses and can optionally be continuous. Record interactions with the encoder and play them back with the same timing. The recording feature works with all tones, including the dial tone, busy signal, ring back tone, 2600Hz and coins and trunk control tones. A help manual is including, with step-by-step instructions for all features. When the app is first run, pop-ups will be displayed indicating what the controls are used for. Warning: Blue Box is designed as an educational tool and utility. Do not attempt to use Blue for any illegal or malicious purposes. Blue Box can be used to assist in dialing numbers, but can not be used to manipulate digital telephone utility services. Limitations: Blue Box is software based decoding and is processor intensive. Performance may vary between devices. Tones that are less than 100 ms with pauses that are less than 100 ms are difficult to process in software. Future versions and processors may increase the reliability of faster tone sequences. If you need touch tone decoding for higher speeds, a hardware solution is recommended. Blue Box can not play tones into the iPhone phone feature while in a call. Blue Box is useful for entering numbers into touch tone operated systems such as an answering machine passcode or a dial-up service that requires the entering of several touch tones to navigate a menu system. Simply enter the numbers once and then play back the numbers into the phone's microphone with a touch.
SignalDesk
A specialized CRM designed for Internet Service Providers, offering tools for customer management, job tracking, and field technician workflows. It provides fast, mobile access to accurate data for network operators.
- Customer and account management
- Install and service job tracking
- Field technician workflows
- On-site notes and documentation
- Mobile access for technicians and admins
- Real-time operational updates
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SignalDesk is a modern CRM designed specifically for Internet Service Providers. Whether you operate a fixed wireless network, fiber system, or hybrid ISP, SignalDesk gives you the operational tools you actually need—without forcing you into a generic, one-size-fits-all platform. Most CRMs aren’t built for ISPs. SignalDesk is. Built for Real ISP Workflows SignalDesk focuses on the day-to-day realities of running a network: Customer and account management Install and service job tracking Field technician workflows Notes, photos, and documentation captured on-site Clean, fast mobile access for technicians and admins Everything is designed to work just as well in the field as it does in the office. Mobile-First, Operator-Focused SignalDesk is not a consumer app and not a generic business CRM. It’s built for operators, technicians, and teams who need fast access to accurate data—without unnecessary clutter or distractions. The iOS app provides: Quick access to customer records Job and task visibility for technicians Real-time operational updates A responsive interface optimized for iPhone and iPad Flexible for Different ISPs SignalDesk is designed to work for: Independent and regional ISPs Fixed wireless providers Fiber and mixed-network operators Small teams scaling into larger operations It’s built to adapt to how you run your network—not the other way around. Secure and Reliable SignalDesk is backed by a secure backend infrastructure and designed with operational reliability in mind. Your data stays available when and where your team needs it.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: SignalDesk at Free against Blue Box's $4.99. SignalDesk also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 56%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.5). Blue Box's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
SignalDesk is free to download; Blue Box costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SignalDesk holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Blue Box's written reviews are positive against 100% of SignalDesk's.
Blue Box ships an update every 7 months, SignalDesk weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Blue Box | SignalDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.5 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 55.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 61 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Sunshine Valley Systems | SpectraSurf Communications, LLC |
Customer experience
Blue Box
SignalDesk
In-app purchases
Blue Box
No in-app purchases
SignalDesk
No in-app purchases









