Settings
This page describes how to access and configure the settings for the Spok Mobile app. The sections below cover the settings in order from top to bottom, and explain what each setting does, and how to configure it.
Some of these settings may not be editable on your device. If a settings option cannot be edited, then this means that the site administrator controls the settings option from the administrator portal. In this situation, the setting is grayed out and cannot be configured within the application.
Accessing the Settings Screen
To access the Settings screen:
- In the Spok Mobile application, click the drawer button. The drawer displays:
- Click the Settings button. The Settings screen displays:
Tone Settings
Tone Settings Overview
Spok Mobile messages are classified into three categories by the sender of the message—high priority, medium priority, or low priority. The High Priority Tone, Medium Priority Tone, and Low Priority Tone settings allow you to configure the tone, interval, and number of repeats for each message priority classification.
The tone, interval, and number of repeats dictate the sound that plays, how frequently the sound plays, and how many times the sound is repeated when an incoming Spok Mobile message is received on your device.
When a message is received in the Spok Mobile application, different tones play based on where you are in the application.
- If you are outside of the Spok Mobile application, the configured tone will play.
- If you are in the Spok Mobile application but not in the chat where the new message was received, the configured tone will play.
- If you are in the Spok Mobile application and in the chat screen where the new message was received, no tone will play.
On iOS devices, when you disable the Vibrate on Ring option in the Settings|Sounds menu, the device does not vibrate when Spok Mobile messages are received.
Configuring Tone Options
To configure the tones in the Spok Mobile application, perform the following steps:
- Open the Settings screen.
- Navigate to the tone settings:
- Based on the level of priority for which you are configuring the alarm options, choose one of the options listed below. The High Priority Tone, Medium Priority Tone, or Low Priority Tone screen displays.
- Configure the following information:
Tone
In the Tone field, choose the tone option that you would like to play when a Spok Mobile message is received.
Interval
In the Interval field, choose the number of seconds that you would like between rings. For example, if you choose the 10 seconds option in this field, the device sounds a notification, waits 10 seconds, and then sounds the next notification.
Number of Repeats
In the Number of Repeats field, choose the desired number of times that you would like the tone to sound. For example, if the 9 option is chosen, the device repeats the tone nine times after a Spok Mobile message is received.
Override Mute Switch Enable this option to allow notification tones to be played, even if the device is muted.
For more information about the Mute Switch Override feature, see Using the Mute Switch Override Feature in Spok Mobile for iOS.
Critical Volume Level In the Critical Volume Level field, choose the volume level for notification tones that play when the device is muted.
This setting is only available if Override Mute Switch has been enabled.
The changes are automatically saved.
Silencing Tones
Spok Mobile tones can be silenced by using the device’s mute switch (when Mute Switch Override is disabled) or by pressing the power button while a tone is playing. If the power button is used to silence the tone, it will continue to rebeep based on your settings until you accept or decline the alert. It is important to note that silencing the Spok Mobile tones can lead to missed messages due to the lack of audio notifications when messages are received.
Silencing Tones with the Device’s Buttons
Spok Mobile tones can be silenced by using your device’s hard buttons. For more detailed information on how to control the volume and silencing function on your device, please refer to Apple’s technical documentation for your device.
Visual Display Settings
The Visual Display Settings have been deprecated for the 4.8 release of the Spok Mobile application, and will be grayed out in the application.
Messaging Settings
The messaging settings allow you to configure settings that directly relate to messaging, such as whether to automatically load message attachments, or whether to display visual notifications when users read or receive your messages.
Message Templates
Spok Mobile message templates are not currently supported in the 4.8 release, but will be reintroduced to the application in a later version. The Message Template setting is grayed out in the current release:
Auto Load Attachments
Enable the Auto Load Attachments option if you would like Spok Mobile to automatically display pictures and videos that are included in received messages.
When this setting is enabled, only pictures and videos up to 2 MB in size will be automatically loaded and displayed.
Enabling this feature can affect your cellular data usage.
Message Delivery Notifications
The Message Delivery Notification settings determine which message delivery status notifications will display beneath chat messages. The following image shows a sample chat message with the Read and Delivered message delivery notifications enabled:
To configure message delivery notifications:
- Open the Settings screen.
- Select the checkbox next to the type of message delivery notification you wish to enable. The available options are:
|
Message Delivery Notification Type |
Description |
| Delivered | Displays when a message that you sent has been delivered to the recipient(s) in the chat. |
|
Read |
Displays when the recipient(s) read the message. NOTE: In a group chat, this will appear with a number indicating how many recipients have read the message (e.g., "Read 2" if two recipients have read it). |
| Failed | Displays when a message that you sent has encountered an error, and was not delivered to the recipient(s). |
Call System
The Call Systems feature in the Settings tab allows you to set up your Spok Mobile device for use with a VoIP client. This allows you to initiate a phone call over a VoIP connection using the Spok Mobile application. For example, if you receive a Spok Mobile message on your device that includes a call back number, your Spok Mobile device can perform a call back to the number over a VoIP connection if the VoIP connection is configured in the Call Phone Systems screen.
- Open the Settings screen.
- Press the Call System option. The The Call System screen displays.
- Click the + button. The Add Provider screen displays.
- In the VoIP Provider field, enter a name to describe the VoIP system that is being entered. After this information is saved, the name of the VoIP provider displays in the Call System screen.
- In the Protocol:// field, enter the protocol for the call system (Example: skype://).
- Choose one of the following options from the Use as default field:
- On: Choose the On option if you would like to use the entered call system as the default call system for the device.
- Off: Choose the Off option if you would not like to use the entered call system as the default call system for the device.
- When the desired information is entered, click Done.
Message Storage Settings
The message storage settings allow you to configure both the maximum age of messages in your inbox, and the maximum number of chats that will be retained. Note that message storage settings only apply to chats and messages in your inbox, not to the same chats and messages in another user's inbox.
Configure these settings carefully. Depending on the values that you set, you may lose messages while your device is offline. If your device goes offline for longer than the configured Maximum Message Age, messages may expire before your device comes back online. If you reach the maximum number of stored messages while your device is offline, any messages over the maximum number will be automatically deleted and you will not see them when your device comes back online.
Maximum Message Age
To configure how long messages are stored in your inbox:
- Open the Settings screen.
- Click the Max Message Age dropdown, then select the maximum number of days that you would like to save messages in your inbox. For example, if you would like to save messages for seven days, choose the 7 Days option:
Maximum Messages Stored
To configure how many chats are stored in your inbox:
- Open the Settings screen.
- Click the Max Messages Stored dropdown, then choose the maximum number of chats that you would like to store in your inbox. For example, if you would like the application to save up to 500 chats total, then choose the 500 option.
When the total number of chats in your inbox exceeds the maximum number of chats to retain, then the chat at the bottom of your inbox will be deleted first (i.e., the chat that has gone the longest time without a new message).
Application Status Settings
The application status section in the Spok Mobile settings allows you to view various status information, such as network server status and application log files.
For more information, see the Viewing Application Status Information page.
Security Settings
The Security section of the Settings screen allows you to set up, update, and delete access codes.
Access Codes
Access codes in the Spok Mobile application act as passwords that must be entered when the application is opened. This code can be a mix of numbers and letters that you would like to use to protect the application. Additionally, if your device supports the functionality, you can scan your fingerprint to access the application. In this case, the fingerprint scan acts as the code and the application opens after the fingerprint is scanned.
When an access code is set, you must enter it before the application will open. More specifically, the code must be entered in the following situations:
- You open the application
- You receive a message and the application is not open on the device
- Your device enters a locked state and you re-open the application
- Your application is put in the background and is re-opened
Some sites may require that the devices belonging to their site use access codes. In this case, you are asked to set an access code on the device immediately after the device is registered. When an access code is set by a site administrator, the code can be changed by the user but the code cannot be deleted.
Further, site administrators can also require that a minimum number of characters are set for access codes. For example, a site administrator can require that all of the clients that are registered to the site being configured have access codes with a minimum length of ten characters. If this is the case, you are asked to set an access code with at least ten characters on your device.
Entering Access Codes
When an access code is set on the device, you must enter the access code before the Spok Mobile application opens.
Entering Numeric and Alphanumeric Access Codes
Numeric and alphanumeric codes can be required on your device before the application opens. To enter an alphanumeric or numeric code to open the application, perform the following steps.
- Open the Spok Mobile application. If you do not have a fingerprint scan set up, the Access Code screen displays.
- In the Enter Access Code field, enter the access code that is set on your device.
- Press Done. The Spok Mobile home screen displays.
Entering Fingerprint Access Codes
A fingerprint scan can be required on your device before the application opens. Before this feature can work, you must have the Touch ID feature configured with your fingerprint on your iOS device because the Spok Mobile application uses that fingerprint in the application. For detailed information on how to configure the Touch ID feature on Apple devices, please refer to Apple’s technical documentation. Then the Enable Touch ID setting must be enabled and set up in the Spok Mobile application.
To scan your fingerprint to open the application, perform the following steps:
- Open the Spok Mobile application. When a fingerprint access code is set and the Spok Mobile application is opened, the Touch ID for “Spok Mobile” dialog displays.
- Place your finger on your device’s fingerprint scanner. The device scans your fingerprint and the application opens.
If issues with the fingerprint scanner are experienced, you can press Enter Password and enter the backup alphanumeric or numeric access code that is set.
Setting Access Codes
Access codes can be set on the Spok Mobile application. When an access code is set, the alphanumeric or numeric value or the fingerprint scan must be entered before the Spok Mobile application can be accessed.
Setting Numeric and Alphanumeric Access Codes
To set an access code in the Spok Mobile application, perform these steps:
- Open the Settings screen.
- In the Settings screen, select the Access Code setting. The Access Code screen displays:
- In the New Access Code field, enter a code that you would like to enter to access the Spok Mobile application.
- In the Confirm Access Code field, re-enter the code that you entered in the New Access Code field. Before this information can be saved, the New Access Code and Confirm Access Code fields must match.
- When the desired information is entered, tap the Save button.
Setting Fingerprint Access Codes
The Enable Touch ID feature can be set up to act as a fingerprint access code that must be entered before the Spok Mobile application opens. It is important to note that before this feature can be set up, you must have the Touch ID feature configured with your fingerprint on your iOS device because the Spok Mobile application uses that fingerprint in the application. For detailed information on how to configure the Touch ID feature on Apple devices, please refer to Apple’s technical documentation.
To set up a fingerprint access code in the Spok Mobile application, perform the following steps:
- Open the Settings screen.
- Set a numeric or alphanumeric access code, as described in the procedures above.
- Once the access code has been set, return to the Settings screen.
- The Enable Touch ID field is now unlocked and can be configured.
- Enable the Enable Touch ID option. The application how requires the fingerprint that is configured in iOS’s Touch ID feature on your device to be scanned before the Spok Mobile application can open.
The backup numeric or alphanumeric access code that is configured can also be entered if issues are experienced with the fingerprint scan.
Updating Access Codes
Existing access codes that are configured in the Spok Mobile application can be updated.
Updating a Numeric or Alphanumeric Access Code
To update an existing numeric or alphanumeric access code in the Spok Mobile application, perform these steps:
- Open the Settings screen.
- In the Settings screen, choose the Access Code option. The Access Code screen displays.
- In the Old Access Code field, enter the existing access code that you have set on your device.
- In the New Access Code field, enter the new access code that you would like to set on your device. After this code is saved, you will be required to enter this code every time you access the Spok Mobile application.
- In the Confirm Access Code field, re-enter the code that you entered in the New Access Code field. Before the new code can be saved, the information that is entered in the New Access Code and Confirm Access Code fields must match.
- After the desired information is entered, tap the Save button. The information is saved.
Updating a Fingerprint Access Code
The Spok Mobile application uses the Touch ID iOS setting to identify the fingerprint that must be scanned before the Spok Mobile application can open. Because of this, to update the fingerprint scan that the Spok Mobile application uses as an access code, the fingerprint that is stored in the iOS Touch ID feature must be updated. For detailed information on how to configure the iOS Touch ID feature, please refer to Apple’s technical documentation.
Deleting Access Codes
Existing access codes that are configured in the Spok Mobile application can be deleted or disabled.
Deleting Alphanumeric and Numeric Access Codes
To disable the access code feature on your device, perform these steps:
- Open the Settings screen.
- In the Settings screen, choose the Access Code option. The Access Code screen displays.
- In the Old Access Code field, enter the existing access code that you have set on your device.
- In the New Access Code field, do not enter information.
- In the Confirm Access Code field, do not enter information.
- Tap the Save button. The information is saved and an access code no longer needs to be entered to access the Spok Mobile application on your device.
Disabling Fingerprint Access Codes (Touch ID)
Existing fingerprint access codes (touch ID) can be disabled.
- Open the Settings screen.
- Disable the Enable Touch ID option. The option becomes disabled and a fingerprint access code is no longer required to open the application.
Managing the Access Code Delay
The Access Code Delay setting in the Spok Mobile application allows you to extend the amount of time that the application waits before locking the application and requiring an access code to re-open the application. More specifically, you can set the application to only lock and require an access code entry to re-enter the application after 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or 30 minutes.
For example, if your device has an access code set and you set the Access Code Delay feature to 10 minutes, you can exit the Spok Mobile application and perform activities outside of the application on your smartphone for up to 10 minutes before the application requires you to enter an access code to re-gain access to the application. If you re-open the application within 10 minutes, you would not have to enter an access code for the application to open.
To manage the Access Code Delay:
- Open the Settings screen.
- In the Settings screen, choose the Access Code Delay option. Please note that you can only click on the Access Code Delay option if an access code is set on your device. The Access Code Delay dialog displays.
- Choose one of the following options:
|
None |
Choose the None option if you would like the application to automatically lock and require an access code entry to re-open the application immediately after the application is closed or exited. |
|
10 minutes |
Choose the 10 minutes option if you would like the application to wait 10 minutes before locking and requiring an access code entry to re-open the application after the application is closed or exited. |
|
20 minutes |
Choose the 20 minutes option if you would like the application to wait 20 minutes before locking and requiring an access code entry to re-open the application after the application is closed or exited. |
|
30 minutes |
Choose the 30 minutes option if you would like the application to wait 30 minutes before locking and requiring an access code entry to re-open the application after the application is closed or exited. |
The change is automatically saved.
About
The About section contains a single option, Info. Click it to see information about the Spok Mobile application, including copyright information and version number.
