Cherple, a new service from San Diego based Globaltel Media, wants to connect the world’s 1.5 billion Internet users to the 3.3 billion wireless devices via an instant message-to-SMS platform.
You can use the basic service today, which uses a web interface to chat two way with U.S. mobile phones via SMS. No registration is required. It works much like Google’s new Gmail SMS service which launched last month.
At CES, though, the company says they’ll launch a downloadable version of the service as well, for both Windows and Mac users. Having a persistent presence on the desktop will make the application much more useful (I hope it also auto-imports and syncs mobile numbers and names from my address book). A Linux version will follow, as well as MySpace and Facebook apps. The company is also white labeling the service.
Download Versions Coming Soon!
Looks like a pretty awesome service. I should really increase the amount of text messages I get with my plan.
Texting costs have to go down. I’ve got plenty of friends who wouldn’t want me to chat with them if it meant receiving a mountain of texts.
I’m going to need to get unlimited texting too.
Man your up kinda late finding news. Looks like a pretty good idea. Don’t ever text though, waste of money imo.
Unlimited texts here I come:-)))
Hm… seriously? Services like this have existed for over a decade now.
Google just came out with their version of the service in October and I think Yahoo acquired Zimbra recently to add the similiar functionality. I think what it comes down to is convenience, no need to login to a website, just click the icon on your desktop and cherp away! That’s what I liked about it.
The white labeling part sounds most interesting, they could be on to something there.
good news.
good news.. and nice post
I don’t get this – you can do this from Yahoo! IM client – and may other places… what’s the big deal?
Like others have pointed out, this technology has been around for years. In fact, in Singapore you can go directly to the phone carrier’s websites and bring up a chat window that allows you to SMS chat with a mobile user. I have often wondered why US carriers don’t do this as well especially since they make almost pure profit from their overprices SMS rates.
Sounds very Similar to what 3Jam Supertext does. They have a downloadable client as well and it is awesome. It is a step above what Gmail SMS just started doing since 3jam will send the message to your phone when you are away from your computer. I love. Its awesome
http://www.3jam.com/
I just used Cherple from my pc in France to my sisters Cellphone in San Francisco…Awesome and it was free….my sister loved it….we’re using it now to chat free. Thanks Cherple!
like google sms service it is also availble to only US people so Other outside US have to wait more which is really sad
saw these guys at CES, tried the app and loved it. Now have it installed on my work desktop and use it every day. Going out of the country later this month and think this is the perfect way to keep in constant contact with everyone back in the states without getting a global phone.