SMS formerly has been a mobile-phone only club, but cloud-messaging provider Zipwhip has virtualized the SMS client, allowing you to send text messages from any wireline number — if not from an actual wired phone. Read more »
The mobile-messaging value chain is changing as OTT players upend mobile operators’ SMS business. There will be 27.7 trillion messages by 2016, and most of the growth in traffic will come from IP-based services. Successful carriers will use this new technology to extend reliability and scalability. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Here’s our daily pick of stories about Apple from around the web that you shouldn’t miss. Today’s installment: why Apple can’t disrupt cable today the way it did the music industry, where the Apple-Google spat is heading, an SMS security concern, plans for Oregon data center. Read more »
Text messaging. It’s one of the few functions of a feature phone that graduated to today’s smartphones and continues to be used heavily by people all around the world. Now, in three African countries, it can even be used for Gmail at no extra charge. Read more »
SMS is getting a facelift at Mobile World Congress. Mavenir Systems is launching a messaging platform that could turn carriers’ staid old SMS into a much more vibrant platform on par with Apple’s iMessage. But most importantly, the technology preserves SMS’s most valuable asset: its ubiquity. Read more »
With no fear of federal regulation, carmakers are pursuing their “infotainment” strategy of packing cars with the latest consumer electronics. But it’s not clear that the states — which are already fighting distracted driving by cell phone users — will go along for the ride. Read more »
Connected mobile devices make life easier, but are our bodies paying too high a price? Eyewear retailer Mezzmer culled a number of datapoints in an infrographic that gives a glimpse into the health complications brought by small screens, speakers and the ergonomics of using handheld computers. Read more »
Sandvine has some interesting New Year’s predictions about how tablets will intersect with the wacky world of mobile broadband. While new family data plans will encourage more consumers to connect their tablets to 3G and 4G networks, they will be awfully careful with their usage. Read more »
Operators may be using Wi-Fi to move data packets off of their 3G and 4G networks, but they could be shipping all kinds of mobile traffic via Wi-Fi. Kineto’s new smartphone software makes the world of Wi-Fi hotspots one big off-ramp for voice, SMS and MMS Read more »
AT&T is doing away with its $10 tier for 1,000 text messages a month for new customers, making it a choice of between a $20 unlimited plan or 20 cents per text message. AT&T said the new text messaging pricing won’t affect existing customers. Read more »
Not long after Steve Jobs’s keynote, a lament went out about apps and services iOS 5 and iCloud will render obsolete. However, after reviewing early reports of iOS 5, I’d argue that many “threatened” apps will still hold a place in the hearts of users. Read more »
This week Apple unveiled iMessage, a feature that enables iOS users to exchange text messages and images without incurring carrier messaging charges. Despite headlines to the contrary, though, iMessage is not going to kill the cash cow that is SMS, for at least three reasons. Read more »
Sprint has quietly hiked its text messaging rates for businesses that send text alerts over its cellular network. But ESPN, The Weather Channel and MSNBC have all opted to cease sending free messages to Sprint users altogether rather than pay the new fee. Read more »
Consumers are expected to send more than 7 trillion short messages next year, up from an estimated 6.1 trillion in 2010. These messages were once the sole domain of network operators, but thanks to mobile software, huge opportunities are opening up for third-party service providers. Read more »
A new patent the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office just approved was filed in 2008 by Apple and prevents users from sending and receiving “objectionable” text messages. The patent, officially called “Text-based communication control for personal communication device,” essentially prevents what’s known as “sexting.” Read more »
Growth of digital content in homes and businesses continues to grow, fueling a demand for more and more storage. And though inefficiency and usability gaps in this market are showing, so too are the opportunities companies can seize to create convenient, secure and redundant storage ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
In a move that could impact text messaging offerings like tweets, bank alerts and sports scores, T-Mobile USA is planning to charge an additional toll to businesses to send texts. The charges could begin on Oct. 1 and cost a quarter of a penny per text. Read more »
The nation’s largest wireless carrier has blocked a major offering from one of the nation’s largest text-alert services. Verizon Wireless Friday night informed customers via SMS that they would no longer be allowed to use some ad-supported services from 4INFO. Read more »
With the introduction of microphone support and an external speaker, the gap between the iPhone and the iPod touch was becoming increasingly narrow. It was really only a matter of time before it happened, but one company, JAJAH is now claiming to have bridged the space […] Read more »
Barack Obama’s text message is the big story here. Brian outlined the historical importance in an earlier post. Now we have more data about the text-message itself, thanks to Nielsen Mobile who describes it as “the single largest mobile marketing event in the U.S., to date.” […] Read more »
