The Google SMS Channels and INTweeter
I’ve encouraged all to visit the labs once in a while and very recently, Google launched SMS Channels at their India Lab. This one seems seriously useful and amazing. Though there are established sites like SMSGupShup, which provide similar service, i.e. Alert your friends and patrons in real time on information that they care about through SMS, because of the very fact that this has got a Google label on it, it has got its place on the web and in minds. I’m not going for a review of Google SMS Channels which enables you to create your own FREE SMS Channels. But, I’m going to demonstrate how we’ve tapped the power of it.
Let me introduce to you all, INTweeter : The SMS Channel of Indian Tweeters
- If you are an Indian and if you tweet (and if you own a mobile phone!!), doubt nothing and subscribe to the INTweeter SMS Channel powered by Google SMS Channels BETA. It aims to keep us informed of Tweetups, Barcamps, Events or anything that’s worth sharing. Fear NO SPAM or rubbish messages.
- Since this channel is of the members, the subscribers can post to the channel and the message will be pushed to all the subscribers, thus making it easy to pass on something important or announcements like a quick meetup/tweetup.
- As a precaution against spam, the channel is kept “private”, i.e. “invite-only”. You may send your phone number as an email to me/as a DirectMessage over Twitter/as a Comment here. I will send you the invite.
- You can be 100% sure of your privacy.
The Tweets that lead to the formation of INTweeter:
Calling all Indian Tweeters : Interested in creating a INTweeter SMS Channel for us ? Suggestions pls
@mixdev @AravindJose How it will work?
@AravindJose @mixdev To be informed of Tweetups, Barcamps, Events or anything that’s worth sharing. Strictly, NO SPAM.
..and encouraging replies from @SathyaBhat @scorpion032, @abhishek, @krishanu_de @iChaitanya @karthiksn
It’s normal that you might’ve got something to ask or get clarified. Write ‘em in the comments. Honestly, I would like to know what you think of INTweeter (and the logo too !!).
Here’s a cheat sheet of the SMS Commands, taken from Google Labs.
| create <channel_name> <description> | Create channel <channel_name> with optional description <description>. By default anyone can join & all subscribers can send. To change properties, use MODIFY |
| modify <PRI or PUB> | Change channel properties as: PRI: Only invited user can join PUB: Everyone can join and Publish |
| delete <channel_name> | Delete a channel that you created |
| on <channel_name> | Start receiving messages posted on channel <channel_name> |
| off <channel_name> | Stop receiving messages posted on channel <channel_name> |
| accept | Accept the terms and conditions |
| send <channel_name> <message> | Send message <message> to channel <channel_name> Message is forwarded to all subscribers |
| poke <channel_name> poke <channel_name> #number poke <channel_name> <query> |
Retrieve nth last message of channel or message in the channel satisfying given query |
| invite <channel_name> <phone_number> | Send invitation to <phone_number> to join channel <channel_name> |
| pref pref <max_msg> <start_time> <end_time> |
Retrieve current maximum_number_of_messages and time settings Set maximum_number_of_messages and message receiving start and end times |
| ch on ch create ch send |
Receive list of channels you have joined Receive list of channels you have created Receive list of channels to which you can publish |
| search <query> | Retrieve list of channels satisfying <query> in name or description |
| more <query> | Retrieve more channels from this query |
| about | Learn more about this product from google |
| tos | Get link to online Terms of service |
| help help <channel_name> help <command> |
See list of important supported commands Get information about a channel Get help about a command |
Aravind Jose T.
The number to which the SMSes are to be sent is:
9870807070
Dude, you rock. Fantastic initiative, bang on your blog tag line: Fresh ideas and thoughts. Subscribed, and will blog on this soon!
Yes, this is a great initiative and I am sure everyone is going to benefit from it.
I’m happy with the way, things are turning out.
But, seems some technical difficulties on Google’s side.