Text messaging groups/lists

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Text messaging groups/lists

tr3v

234 posts

Master Geek

#36205 22-Jun-2009 08:41

I would like to implement the equivalent of a mailing list using SMS only. Ideally, a single phone number that messages can be sent to, and receieved by "subscribers".

I can achieve this using Twitter, but this requires that "subscribers" create twitter accounts and have email addresses. And then, we would all have to follow each other.

Does such a service exist?

nate

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#227475 22-Jun-2009 19:03

We have just the product for you - you can broadcast SMS out to recipients, and if they reply, the reply is dropped into your "inbox" where you can read and reply back (pretty much duplicates how email works but for SMS).

Drop me a PM and I'll send you more details via email.

tr3v

234 posts

Master Geek

#227489 22-Jun-2009 19:47

Thanks nate, I want the reply to be broadcast to all subscribers though, not just to me.

nate

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#227582 23-Jun-2009 00:27

tr3v: Thanks nate, I want the reply to be broadcast to all subscribers though, not just to me.

That could start to get very expensive, who would foot the bill for each reply? You or the subscriber?

tr3v

234 posts

Master Geek

#227596 23-Jun-2009 06:51

nate:
tr3v: Thanks nate, I want the reply to be broadcast to all subscribers though, not just to me.

That could start to get very expensive, who would foot the bill for each reply? You or the subscriber?

Both I guess, i.e. the originator of the message. How do the Twitter and Facebook models work I wonder? I will have a look at my next bill.

qraider

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Ultimate Geek

#227630 23-Jun-2009 09:27

Perhaps something like eTXT ?

http://www.telecom.co.nz/etxt

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tr3v

234 posts

Master Geek

#227655 23-Jun-2009 10:45

No, not quite. I want all members (subscribers) to be able to broadcast using the single number. Also, I wouldn't expect to have to pay in addition to the SMS messages sent. I would have thought a service that generates additional traffic for the network provider would not incur additional charges.

I think I will stay with my Twitter solution. I also found http://tweetparty.com which helps, but still requires members to create their own twitter accounts. There is probably a way of doing this in facebook too... specific notifications for a group?

I would have thought this was a very useful tool... managing sports teams, events, clubs etc.

nate

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#227678 23-Jun-2009 12:29

tr3v: I would have thought this was a very useful tool... managing sports teams, events, clubs etc.

What you're talking about doesn't really fit for a sports club. They are more interested in broadcasting messages out, and then receiving a reply to one central place. I'm not sure of anyone else who would need the ability to broadcast a reply sent to everyone.

Flick me a PM anyway, I know of a way we can do this.

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tonyhughes

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#227685 23-Jun-2009 13:12

etxt is great, you can use Outlook rules to forward, broadcast, reply etc etc all fully automated (or rules in whatever client you use).