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text messages received as an html link?
I send a text message and my group recieves a link...not the actual message...am I missing something?
I’m upset
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Inappropriate?Jared,
Please watch this short video from Derek Johnson, the CEO and Founder of Tatango.com. This will give you an understanding of why were are going this direction and how you can still utilize Tatango Direct messaging.
Check it out: http://www.vimeo.com/4378978
Let me know if you have any questions at all, and feel free to contact me at alex@tatango.com. -
Inappropriate?And they just made the free service useless to everyone that doesn't have a phone and/or data package that can access links.
I’m disappointed at best
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Jerry, if you could add more content (photos, videos, links, voice messages, even files) to your messages, the interface was completely geared towards groups, and you could send alerts with a link to the Group Profile, would you use the service?
Let me know! Tatango 3.0 will keep you more connected with your group than text messaging ever could. -
Adding photos, videos and links is of no use for my group. Voice messages, maybe. Longer text messages, maybe.
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Inappropriate?I agree, the free service has now become useless.
We send to a group of 300 people twice a day, 7 days a week = 1,800 message a month. With Tatango's new pricing plans we would have to pay $600 a month.
Looks like we will have to find another service.
Goodbye Tatango, you have a great group of guys on your staff, but I really don't think your service is going to last very long with your current pricing.
I’m sad
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Hang tight for Tatango 3.0 launching next month Robert. I know the paid service is out of your budget with the amount of texts you guys send, and the current free service may not seem like a smart move, but once you see Tatango 3.0 I promise you you will be blown away.
I appreciate all your support throughout your time on Tatango. Stay in touch - you are one of the first users I want onboard when we launch! -
Alex,
I would love to stick around, the only problem is I don't think my client can afford to wait until next month. Every day that they can't send txt's they lose money. -
Do the changes in 3.0 change what's happening now? If so why change now and then again next month. If not then I don't see what will be there that will help my need.
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It's a progression towards 3.0 - the site will only be improving in a month, not going in a new direction or changing.
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This reply was removed on 04/30/09.
see the change log -
Inappropriate?JC,
You are on the paid service and should not have been switched over. Sorry for the mix up. Can you shoot me a quick email (alex@tatango.com) with the mobile number that your account is under, and I'll reactivate your Direct Messaging account. -
Inappropriate?I'm frustrated at your new free service. You've lost us. We were ready to jump into the 21st century of TEXT messaging, and bring out 100 member group into text messaging (it's a high school group), only to find that the day we signed up, Tatango took a HUGE step back. You guys had a great thing going - you could have even added an extra text message after the one we sent out with an advertisement, or follow Cha-Cha, they know how to pay employees and use ads in their text messages for free.
Anyone can give anyone a link to a website and they can find information. Very few high schoolers have data plans on their phones.
Let us know if you ever change your mind.
I’m frustrated
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Inappropriate?David,
Thank you for your comments and feedback, they are greatly appreciated. I see that you were comparing us to Cha-Cha, but that's a little unfair. Cha-Cha has $65 million in funding, so they are able to absorb messaging costs that are charged by the carriers much better than a small company like Tatango.
In regards to your concern about high schoolers not having data plans, we made the links short enough so they can copy them into any internet browser.
If you have any feedback, please don't hesitate to contact us.
- Derek Johnson (CEO Tatango)2 Comments Add a comment
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They wont take the time to paste it to a browser!
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If they won't paste it in to a browser, I would suggest looking at our paid subscription models which send the message directly to the phone http://www.tatango.com/subscription/
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Inappropriate?Okay, sorry about the comparison to Cha-Cha, but you need to understand that our group has a website. We wanted to expand to text messaging because everyone always has their cell phones. If we wanted to communicate through the internet, we would simply tell people to go to our website... I understand advertising isn't what it used to be. Please admit though, that this is a step back - and it will cause a loss in members from your website.
I’m sad
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Inappropriate?Derek,
You know I'm a fan of Tatango. But the following comment makes no sense to me:
"In regards to your concern about high schoolers not having data plans, we made the links short enough so they can copy them into any internet browser."
If they have to go to a computer to see the message then why send a txt message at all when an email would do the same thing?
I understand that the txt ads were not covering your expenses, but the current system of sending a txt message with a URL link to view the text message just makes no sense to me. I'm trying to wrap my head around why you think this solution would work, but I just can't do it.
I’m confused
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I agree with Robert. A link is only useful if the recipient has a data plan on their phone or is by an available internet connected computer. For example what can I do with a link if I'm in my car? I pull over, read the message and then what?
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Inappropriate?David & Robert,
You make a great point, why not send an email to people telling them the info. Without data plans though, students are not going to be checking their emails on a regular basis, therefore that important message will be sitting in their inbox unread. With Tatango, you will be able to post a message, which triggers a text message alert, prompting your students to check their message.
Also, if you dislike our new free package, we still have our paid model which allows you to do exactly what you want http://www.tatango.com/subscription/
Any other questions or feedback, don't hesitate to let us know.
- Derek -
Inappropriate?Derek,
I get your point.
My client was planning on moving to your subscription service the first of May. But with the subscription plan changes it would cost him approximately $600 every month which is just not cost effective.
Don't get the wrong idea, I think you have a great service and a great bunch of staff, but I'm afraid without some outside funding in the very near future I don't think Tatango is going to be around much longer.
I’m sad
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Inappropriate?I realize you have a paid plan, I watched the movie. I also understand you need to make money. But from the high schoolers point of view, it doesn't make sense to any of us. Realize that from a school system point of view - there are 100 students and no money. We send out emails and have a website already - we're just looking to communicate in the old way. I'm just voicing an opinion that the free text system, in my view - and other's from what I've seen - lost its point, and took a step back.
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Thanks David for the feedback, we completely understand your concerns. We are a business though, and without making the changes we did, the service would not be able to continue into the future.
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Inappropriate?Robert,
We would love to work with you and your client to find a price that would fit your budget. Please email me at djohnson (at) tatango.com
In regards to your last comment, I have to disagree. The initial reaction has been great from the majority of our users. Just yesterday we had a record amount of messages sent out and a good majority of those members viewed their messages on their desktop browser or mobile phone.
- Derek1 Comment Add a comment
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Desktop browser: if near a computer
Mobile phone: if they have a phone & plan that allows browsing -
Inappropriate?Derek,
I just called Alex and I will be talking with my client today or tomorrow. -
Inappropriate?well thank you any ways for looking at my situation. It's great to know there's a company where your comments are read and responded too. I do hope, however, that you continue on searching for ways to make the old service available as an option (even if it takes a year or two, please keep looking for ways). Thanks again for your responses
I’m indifferent
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Inappropriate?Wow, I thought this was a great idea and we set up a crime network in New Orleans. With the prices posted for subscriptions I am scrambling trying to find another way to do this. We had a crime message come across tonight and I couldnt read it until I got home. The whole reason we got this is so people could be alerted immediatly if something was happening in their immediate area. Now the service is useless. Joe4 Comments Add a comment
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Joe,
I'm sorry you feel this way. The subscription prices are based off the costs that each carrier charges Tatango to deliver our messages, so unfortunately there isn't much we can do. Thanks again for supporting Tatango.
- Derek -
I fail to see how the new way saves Tatango any money.
- Old way: User composes message and Tatango sends text message to everyone in the group.
- New Way: User composes message and Tatango sends text message to everyone in the group. Not only does Tatango have to process the user's message to convert it to a link you also have to support a website for all these links (additional cost).
Perhaps the real intent is to increase the overall percentage of your paid vs. free subscribers. If so, Tatango should just say so. I would appreciate the honesty. -
Sorry azjerry for leaving you hanging, just noticed I hadn't responded to your latest comment. You are completely correct, the new way doesn't save Tatango any money at all. What it does do is increase our page-views as members of groups are now viewing their messages on the Tatango website, which in turn generates revenue from web advertisements. With the placement of web advertisements in addition to the text ads being placed in each mobile message, we are able to cover the high cost incurred to send the text messages.
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Joe - this is Andrea, the founder of the NOLA Crime Alert System. I have just paid for a subscription out of my own pocket so we can continue to receive text messages and not a web link. Right now the volume is low enough that I can cover the fees, but will be looking into soliciting donations/funding to help cover those fees, especially if the number of texts increases.
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Inappropriate?Can someone post another service similar to the way this one worked. It does not have to be free but we can not afford to pay what they are trying to charge now. Thanks, Joe
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Inappropriate?Derek, How much do youll have to pay for a message going outbound to a mobile user? Joe1 Comment Add a comment
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Joe,
Messaging costs range from $0.005 to $0.025 depending on carrier, plus the $1,000/month for leasing of our phone number, and $2,500/month to connect to the mobile phone carriers. This doesn't include the servers that send the messages and engineers that make sure your messages go out smoothly. As you can tell, it's a costly operation, which no longer is being adequately subsidized by advertising within the text messages.
- Derek -
Inappropriate?Derek,
I would appreciate a response to AZJerry's question above. How is text messaging a link different than text messaging a message? Tatango is still sending out a text message either way.
The value of this service is that messages can be viewed immediately. Your new free service is no more valuable than an email.
Thanks,
Matt
I’m disappointed in a service that had such potential
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Matt,
Here is my answer to AZJerry's question...
"Sorry azjerry for leaving you hanging, just noticed I hadn't responded to your latest comment. You are completely correct, the new way doesn't save Tatango any money at all. What it does do is increase our page-views as members of groups are now viewing their messages on the Tatango website, which in turn generates revenue from web advertisements. With the placement of web advertisements in addition to the text ads being placed in each mobile message, we are able to cover the high cost incurred to send the text messages."
I disagree with you regarding your comment about our new service being no more valuable than an email. With email, there is still no alert to your mobile phone that you have an urgent group message waiting for you, which means that email will sit in that group members inbox until next time they check it. With Tatango it alerts all of your group members that there is something important waiting for them.
- Derek -
Derek,
Thank you for the timely response!
I'm sorry that you disagree with my opinion, however, business is not a debate. What others and myself are are telling you is that we do not find value in this new product. I wish that you would stop disagreeing with your customers and start to listen to their evaluation of your business. We are trying to help you! Hopefully, together we can figure out a solution that satisfies both parties.
Again, my problem with your new product is that it is no longer a convenient way of transmitting a small piece of information to a large quantity of potentially indifferent people. I use your service as means of publicity to reach out to a large student body. The problem that I face is the recipients of my messages will not be wiling to take the extensive effort to see the actual message. So, for my purposes, the new service is less valuable.
Thanks,
Matt -
Matt, you are correct, in some instances the new service is less valuable, unless you upgrade your account. We are currently exploring all the options available to us right now, but if you have any ideas on how to cover the costs of messaging without anyone actually paying for it, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.
Derek Johnson (CEO Tatango)
206.334.4012 - Personal Mobile Phone -
Inappropriate?Also,
I'd just like to point out how emotionally charged your customers are. That is a GREAT sign for you! That means you developed a product that customers are so satisfied with that when it is no longer offered* they feel this way. Your challenge is find a way to make that product profitable.
*I know you will say that it is still offered via Tatango Direct. As others have noted, $.05 / text is too much relative to the benefit of the product.
I hope that helps.
-Matt
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Yea, it's great to see how much Tatango has really become a daily part of so many groups communication efforts. Trust me though, the people that work at Tatango are just as emotionally charged as our customers, and if we could offer the service at no charge, and still keep the doors open, we would. We are currently exploring all the options available to us right now, but if anyone has any advice or ideas, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Derek Johnson (CEO Tatango)
206.334.4012 -
Inappropriate?We were using the system to alert neighbors of crimes in action in many different areas of New Orleans. There have been a few incidents where the real time mobile messages came in handy and people in the different hoods knew what to watch out for. Once the service went to email IMO it does not work. Sure, its better than nothing but nowhere near as valuable as it was. Now are folks willing to pay for the pay service. I doubt it. I figured out the cost and I am positive the money is not there. I have been working at my data center the last week and am determined to come up with my own solution.1 Comment Add a comment
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Joe,
Thank you for the feedback. If you are looking for an alternative option, I would recommend checking out SMTP messaging, which is completely free. Unfortunately SMTP messages are unreliable, slow, don't comply to MMA or FCC regulations, they require you to know each mobile phone number carrier.
We only use SMPP messaging on the Tatango site for the reasons above, and because of this, we are charged by the cell phone carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon etc.) for each and every text message.
Here is a blog post we wrote about the difference between the different types of messaging: http://twurl.nl/vi4wt6
If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact me directly at 206.334.4012
- Derek Johnson (CEO Tatango) -
Inappropriate?Like others in this exchange I text high school students -- around 220 of them. I was not aware that a change was taking place until last week when our text went out, I thought you were having "technical difficulties". As a result I had several students drop out of our group. Now I know this is a permanent change, the new format will not work for us since most of our audience does not have a data plan and will not go to their computer to retrieve the message, all they want is the brief text. As a non-profit we can't afford to upgrade to the fee service. I am disappointed and will have to look for another option but want to thank you for the great service you provided for us this last year.
I’m frustrated
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Thanks for the message and we are truly sad to see you go.
- Derek Johnson (CEO Tatango) -
Inappropriate?I would agree with most people that have commented. I am very disappointed in the direction you have taken. Maybe you should have invested in your company versus the VERY nice offices you have and the streaming video 24 hours a day. There are other services out there that charge less than you do for more. You have lost another group account.
I’m a former user.
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I wanted to clarify a few things you said in your comment above. I'm glad you think our office is VERY nice, but it seems like you have the opinion we spend too much money on it. To be completely transparent, we pay only $1,500 for the space, includes triple net (if you do your research, you will realize that we got a steal in the area we are in), in addition, we sublease out extra space in the office to help cover costs.
In regards to your Tatango.TV comment, you may want to read my blog post about the minimal costs incurred to launch that product. http://thederekjohnson.com/2009/03/05...
If you know of lower costing ad-free services, please let us know because as far as I'm aware we are the lowest.
- Derek Johnson (CEO) -
Inappropriate?Thanks for your feedback Allen, we hope you choose to stay onboard. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you and your group stick with Tatango.
alex@tatango.com -
Inappropriate?fyi - i enjoyed reading this thread. Derek you really made an impact on your users and I applaud that. One day when I develop my own service or idea I want to see these same reactions. Every company goes through this small or large.
Also, your blog posts and tatango.tv are inspiring as well. Keep doing what your doing.
Thanks. -
Inappropriate?I think its just a matter of comming up with a good idea and offer it for free for a while. Once folks get hooked on it then start charging for it. The problem in this case is that many people that were using the free service can not afford the pay service like our groups. Also as some said here the service that is now free is useless to their cause. Hopefully they will keep enough paid people on to stay in business.1 Comment Add a comment
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Joe, thanks for the comment. The intent from day one was to allow the service to be ad-supported and free for everyone, not to pull a bait and switch on our users. Obviously we are a business and have to make certain decisions when things like the economy, advertising spending etc. don't go as planned.
- Derek Johnson (CEO Tatango)
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