Short Message Service (SMS) is a tool that allows you to send short text messages to other mobile phone users. SMSPup allows you to use the computer like a mobile telephone, to send SMSes over the Internet.
Features
SMSPup is a web based service that you need to join and login to online. Free SMSes are accrued by visiting links advertising products and services, which are sent from SMSPup to members' email addresses. Once you have accrued a number of 'click throughs', (some of which give you more than one free SMS per click), you can SMS one or a number of people, over the internet, to notify them of a group event.
Cost
Free. Only cost is for your time online.
What it's good for
Sending people a quick message of praise, good wishes or an invitation to, or notification of a community event.
Why it's good
Works direct from your computer to any mobile phone number in Australia. One message can be written and copied and pasted to a number of phone numbers. You don't need to worry about being in range or a telephone tower. People are more likely to engage with a personal SMS than a group email.
Problems/downside
Extra emails advertising products and services you don't necessarily want. You need a mobile phone number to use it. Some people don't have mobile phones. Messages are limited to 136 characters. Can be tricky if you're out of range and people reply and expect you to respond immediately. Important to explain your use of the service for alerts/notices only.
Examples to check out (places to play are marked with an *)
The easiest way to do this is to join up and organise with a friend to test it out. Click to view at http://www.smspup.com
Alternatives
Other telecommunications companies offer free SMSes as part of their contracts, but can they be accessed online? This is an important question to ask when updating your contract.
Criteria/factors re tools and processes - Skype
| Criteria | Comment | |
|---|---|---|
User friendly |
Yes | easy to join and use. |
push or pull in kind |
Push | messages come to your email |
low or high interaction with participants/facilitators |
High | highly engaging |
synchronous or asynchronous activity, |
Asynchronous | asynchronous for text sending |
facilitator skills of a low or high level |
Lowish | Fairly low, need to keep messages short |
participant skills of a low or high level |
Low to medium | Text messaging can be easy to read. |