SMS is not dying, but doing SMS value added services since 1997, the big question has always been: “Would your customers use it?” and “Show me the money!” With custom ringtones we proved the business case in 1998 and the rest is history. But with +2000 other SMS based services we did not. End-user experience is so poor or the value compared to the price is too low.

And the last but not the least: “How will users find the service?” It is hard to remember key words and short codes etc. You must advertise a service too much and that can ruin your business model in the consumer space.

This service provides value and I wish all good for the company. I hope you will find the right way and the value proposition to sell this to your customers and your business model will be vital. Scaling the business model and sales will be a challenge.

I’m happy to see that people are still pushing SMS to it’s limits. My rule of thumb has always been: “Keep it simple!”. SMS is simple and a good platform to build on. But at the end of the day your customers will show how successful you have been. Good luck!

VESKU

I disagree with Gregg and I feel a GSM modem would be the best course of because it does not require a server or internet connection and it is not dependant on any provider for connectivity. Continuing with a GSM modem is the best option because it is immediately available, PRIVATE and possible to eventually evolve to MMS.

I can see something like this in for example a public library where you can find out your books due date or reserve a book via SMS. I can see a restaurant use this for reservations or reminders. I can see this as a query tool to find out product shipping status for business orders.

When MMS is available, you could obtain a confidential PDF price sheet or PowerPoint presentation from the company database securely with a simple keyword SMS query.

1. You dont have to be “online” or “near your mobile” to use it (as you do with IM)
2. It takes 1 sec to send an SMS – and friend can receive it in 1 sec.
3. Limited character set to say what you want.

The whole point is that not one service will “die” – but be used complementary. Do you honestly think that “everyone” will want IM, and that “everyone” will want internet on their mobiles.

Most ppl will use IM, SMS and Email on their mobiles. All are important – none will die.

We can help you with that here in the U.S., or you can go directly to one of the aggregators and get your own short code. I think your system would be much more “turnkey” if it interfaced with a short code rather than a cellular modem.

It’s easy for them to connect email and IM, but dealing with cellular modems is a pain, especially here in the US. Many companies have their servers outsourced in data centers and can’t maintain a modem remotely.

Let me know if you want to do some short code testing. That’s what our customers like about us. You can be up in a few minutes on a real short code with a 2-way sms api.

I look forward to checking out your software.

Oh, and Jonathan, we may be FARRRRR behind you in the adaption of SMS and mobile, but I believe our technology has helped more than a few Europeans over the last 100 years. The only reason the rest of the world is so far ahead in mobile, is because your regular phone systems are so awful.

Hey, wasn’t it us that invented the telephone? That mus be why our phone numbers start with the number 1!

It makes me laugh even more when you say SMS will die just because your poncy cellphone companies charge you the just to receive text messages! Now that my friend is just hilarious I feel sorry for ya.

And what’s up with your ugly handsets, 90% most of them look like startac’s. And give up the retractable aerials, it’s so 90’s.

While this is an interesting application that connects a cell phone modem to a database, companies like Mobivity have been doing this for over 18 months, offering access over 5 digit short codes, with no software to install at all.

We have many clients using it to access data via SMS. These businesses do not want to install software on servers and get mobile phone modems. They want to write a simple web service that interfaces with a 2-way sms service and their database.

MobileDataNow does look interesting (and different) in that it connects directly to a database, but to me that’s a feature not a product. I can’t tell, but it would be really useful if you could write the queries on the fly via SMS and not pre-build them.

Definitely worth checking out.

Best of luck Nick!

Greg Harris

Sure, kids like SMS – they run around all day, and their mobile email options have been limited. But give them one:many sending with easy photo attachments, mix in the fickleness of youth, and boom! – the ’s’ of SMS will stand for “sayonara”