Jailbreak iPhone App Combo: mQuickDo + iRealQuickSMS to call or text from any screen
Here’s a little combo that I’ve been using lately that lets me quickly text or call anyone from any iPhone screen.
mQuickDo ($6.99) is essentially an app launcher, but it can also be used to bring up the volume dialogue with a simple on-screen gesture. iRealQuickSMS ($7.99) is a fantastic SMS app that lets me answer and compose messages from any screen, and it can be activated with a quick tap of the “volume up” button and a tap of the screen. So what I’ve done is set mQuickDo to run from the top status bar and I’ve configured it to “toggle active category muted”, which brings up the volume box without making any volume changes. I then tap on the volume box that appears and can then type in any contact name to quickly call or text a friend (or a frenemy, if I’m feeling antagonistic). Heck, I can even text from the lock screen now! 
I’ve been using these two apps in tandem for the last five days or so and the experience has been consistently stable, fast, and kickass. I wrote a little while ago about how I wished that Universal Search would be a little smarter about contact shortcuts, but with this solution I no longer have to sit and wait for that app to be updated.
Ok, now I’m going to go on a texting and calling rampage just because I can 
Dude, you don't need mQuickDo for that. Check your prefs, you can change your iRQSMS settings to use Volume Up + Touch.
actually, that's the feature I am using in this combo. I'm not saying it's an essential use or I'm unlocking some new feature – but for now, you've still got to touch a hardware button to bring up the dialogue. mQuickDo lets me activate it with an on-screen swipe as well.
Ahh, I see what you mean – this is purely hardware free. I've also noticed your slight love for mQuickDo. You've mentioned it once or twice…
it's more like I haven't tried all too many apps just yet, so I mention the same ones over and over…;)
Unlike yours truly which tries EVERYTHING & has to restore every few days. FANTASTIC.