Text Message, SMS, updates from Mobiles to Ping
Well, it's all about SMS, mobile text messenging with Ping. Still a massive market for communication between people, groups, companies etc.
I know you can send Pings via email from phones, and even log on to your optimsed site. But often when you don't have a phone that does not have email or any decent web browsing, being able to send a TextMessage style update via SMS Ping update from your photo to your account could be pretty useful I think.
I don't think you offer this service all ready, if I missed it I apologise.
I personally would use this over my email updates from my phone which I have done, just because I have 100's or free text messages, and even if there was a min cost. it's still easier for my on my Nokia.
That why you have pretty much collared all the available input services, short of send a voicemal message utilising PING own propriety's brand of voice recognition. :)
I know you can send Pings via email from phones, and even log on to your optimsed site. But often when you don't have a phone that does not have email or any decent web browsing, being able to send a TextMessage style update via SMS Ping update from your photo to your account could be pretty useful I think.
I don't think you offer this service all ready, if I missed it I apologise.
I personally would use this over my email updates from my phone which I have done, just because I have 100's or free text messages, and even if there was a min cost. it's still easier for my on my Nokia.
That why you have pretty much collared all the available input services, short of send a voicemal message utilising PING own propriety's brand of voice recognition. :)
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The best points from everyone
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I was hoping to make updates via SMS as well and found this note. One the ping welcome page it says "Update from anywhere using AIM, GTalk, iGoogle, WAP, iPhone, SMS and E-mail." SMS, see? Someone should take that down if it's not true.
I’m disappointed.
3 people think
this is one of the best points
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Just a thought...
Call it your wish list for the eyes and ears out there...
How about you write down a list of all the ideas YOU have had, that you cannot implement for any reason, costs, tech limitations etc. Post this somwhere on your site.
You can ask users to submit ideas that are totally new for you rather than people like me suggesting these ideas that you must have already considered.
There will be people like me who love a challenge, to think out of the box. And to know what obvious and not so obvious ideas have been considered, ignored, taken on etc would be really very useful and I think would encourage more people to contribute. I think some people may avoid suggesting what they may think is a obvious idea in case it was either WAY obvious or actually NOT obvious at all, thus you miss out.
A nice up-to-date list posted here or on your blog that people can see at a glance. Then you can put a brief summary of why certain ideas and not feasible even if they seem like VERY obvious idea to implement, cannot at the moment by implemented. This way people can understand the reasoning, the process and maybe not knock (hypothetically) things when they cant understand why you don't have 'sms'.
You could mark potential ideas that get suggested with a symbol, ones that you can implement, but need more people wanting it. Like your survey for services for example. Have a open ended survey of sorts for user enhancements.
And you never know, your list that states the SMS is a very valid option but you guys cannot afford it, may just pop over the desk of some Ping enthusiast who happens to have that 2k a month to donate. Which is not impossible.
I’m confident
3 people think
this is one of the best points
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Inappropriate?I love this idea too -- if we had $2k a month for an SMS shortcode... Remember we are only a couple guys in a garage... Ryan/Ping.fm
I’m anxious
2 people think
this is one of the best points
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The shortcode idea is terrific, but I find that I can send email by SMS from my phone (which is prepaid, so no fancy plans are needed). I do subscribe to the unlimited text messaging plan for $10 per month, since I have a couple of friends who prefer text to voice calls (also, my husband is deaf and it's just easier to text). While I was shopping around for a new prepaid phone plan a couple of weeks ago, I saw that Virgin.ca has an unlimited plan, but it doesn't cover shortcodes! -
A shortcode might complicate matters. It might not work internationally. A regular GSM no should work fine, although it's harder to remember. I believe you can get incoming SMS gateways fairly inexpensively, but it still might be beyond the budget. -
... so was Nirvana *smile* -
Inappropriate?Argh. Doh. Yeah, I keep forgetting. It's so easy to imagine 'Google' type background, with honking unending finances.
Had no idea things like the SMS code cost so much, but now I do. I can why what might be simple obvious enhancements to 'us' may be not so simple and affordable. Must be very frustrating for you, and I am sure you had this idea like 20 gazillion years ago...
Well, even more then you have my admiration and support.
If there is anything I can help put with, seriously I would love to contribute. Im no coder, but am a designer (20 years in commercial prepress, printing, designing and marketing), so anything just let me know. I am trying to get into my own self employed lark, after leaving my full time job (breakdown 2 years ago) after 20 years... damn it's hard. So I am just putting myself out there and trying to offer my services for 'free' to certain people so that I can build a portfolio, reputation etc.
Anyway, just let me know.
But congrats on the 'Garage' marvel that is Ping. :)
I’m thankful
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Inappropriate?Just a thought...
Call it your wish list for the eyes and ears out there...
How about you write down a list of all the ideas YOU have had, that you cannot implement for any reason, costs, tech limitations etc. Post this somwhere on your site.
You can ask users to submit ideas that are totally new for you rather than people like me suggesting these ideas that you must have already considered.
There will be people like me who love a challenge, to think out of the box. And to know what obvious and not so obvious ideas have been considered, ignored, taken on etc would be really very useful and I think would encourage more people to contribute. I think some people may avoid suggesting what they may think is a obvious idea in case it was either WAY obvious or actually NOT obvious at all, thus you miss out.
A nice up-to-date list posted here or on your blog that people can see at a glance. Then you can put a brief summary of why certain ideas and not feasible even if they seem like VERY obvious idea to implement, cannot at the moment by implemented. This way people can understand the reasoning, the process and maybe not knock (hypothetically) things when they cant understand why you don't have 'sms'.
You could mark potential ideas that get suggested with a symbol, ones that you can implement, but need more people wanting it. Like your survey for services for example. Have a open ended survey of sorts for user enhancements.
And you never know, your list that states the SMS is a very valid option but you guys cannot afford it, may just pop over the desk of some Ping enthusiast who happens to have that 2k a month to donate. Which is not impossible.
I’m confident
3 people think
this is one of the best points
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Inappropriate?There's more than just paying out for a short code, which we have researched and even might implement soon. I know for people in the UK, premium text messages cost a butt load, and there are issues you have to deal with as far as making sure your code is available for as many networks as possible.
We would probably start with a US short code first for a test market or what have you, and then expand as we see fit.
In the mean time, Dan Lane has created a crafty little way to update your Ping.fm statuses via SMS for the UK only.
http://dan-lane.livejournal.com/61360...
2 people think
this is one of the best points
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I've been sending to international numbers before so sending to a UK number doesn't hurt any more than it does to update Twitter or HelloTxt. The only downside is the prepending your SMS with "P userid" which will shorten the characters you can fit in your SMS by 4 or 5. At least it's a start. -
i have unlimited texting on my phone, and even though i have email and web access on my phone, it doesn't work in my area (parts of vermont), so txting ping updates from my phone is paramount for me, otherwise, it's useless as i use brightkite (which DOES do this from my phone). -
Inappropriate?I dunno about other folks, but I have found that sending email updates via SMS on my mobile works as a nice alternative to an SMS short code.
I’m just sayin
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Inappropriate?In addition to e-mail updates, you can use the mobile platform on most internet-capable phones.
http://m.ping.fm/
And alas, E-mail is free whereas SMS shortcodes aren't and some providers charge to send them.
I’m washing my volcano
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Inappropriate?True, but with WAP, I have to pay data, whereas my plan has unlimited text messages. =)
I’m silly
1 person thinks
this is one of the best points
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Inappropriate?I have unlimited text messages too, and I got rid of internet on phone for cost cutting, but would like to update via text message. Would it be as simple as changing my email address to the one that comes from my phone. I can update my blog this way, it seems reasonable that I would be able to update ping this way too.
I’m intrigued
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Inappropriate?My email address in ping is still my regular email address. I just send a text message from my mobile to the email address that appears on my dashboard. Works like a champ.
I’m trying to be informative
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Inappropriate?OK, that made me double check the email I had entered and I had it entered incorrectly, working now.
I’m supa
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Inappropriate?I was hoping to make updates via SMS as well and found this note. One the ping welcome page it says "Update from anywhere using AIM, GTalk, iGoogle, WAP, iPhone, SMS and E-mail." SMS, see? Someone should take that down if it's not true.
I’m disappointed.
3 people think
this is one of the best points
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Inappropriate?I agree with jcgarza. I was looking for the same thing. It should definitely be taken down if it is not true. I totally understand your reasoning though. I have only been using it for a day, but otherwise, so far it rocks.
I’m undecided
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Inappropriate?SMS posting is quite possible. I send a new SMS message to the email address provided in my dashboard and it works like a charm. I use ATT service. It's possible that different service providers may react differently. Give it a try though.
I’m happy
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Inappropriate?SMS and e-mail are not the same thing. Your phone might be telling you you're sending an SMS, but unless you're sending to an SMS-to-email gateway that results in your message being registered by your carrier as 'SMS' rather than 'e-mail' you are still in effect sending an e-mail. On my network e-mails are considerably more expensive than SMS messages, and are not included with the monthly allowances for SMS messages.
I’m waiting for this to get set up, since it would rock. Alternatively, allow updates to propagate *from* an SMS enabled service (like Twitter)!
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Inappropriate?Yeah, I just tried to send an SMS to the email address and it worked. I have sprint. Maybe our phone companies are doing sms to email?
I’m unsure
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Inappropriate?This is indeed a real bummer. I thought originally Ping would be able to pickup my tweets and distribute them to other sites, but it looks like it only works if you originate from Ping. This doesn't really accomplish my needs. SMS is much simpler (quick to compose, no need for a subject, etc) and more importantly most devices count the characters as you type so there's no risk of going over 140. If you introduce this option or offer a service that polls other sites (particularly Twitter) and spreads the status, I'd be all over it.
I’m disappointed
2 people think
this is one of the best points
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Inappropriate?Great job guys....I hope one day you'll be able to finance this feature
For those who want this feature.... spread the word of this site
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Inappropriate?So beyond bummed that I saw you could update it via SMS on your front page and then signed up to find that option wasn't available. You guys really need to take that down if it's not true. Please don't think I'm putting this service down, it really is great, it's just that I only update my Twitter and Plurk from my phone so I was excited when I saw the SMS comment on your main page. I don't have the internet on my phone so I can't access your mobile site and my phone doesn't allow me to send SMS messages to emails. Guess I'll try HelloTXT.
I’m frustrated
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The method posted by Sean works well. http://is.gd/BOK
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