SMS GupShup, a popular SMS based social networking platform which allows people to send free group massages, is going to launch applications for Android and Symbian operating systems.
“We are developing an application for Android and Symbian platform so that smartphone users can get better user interface to use our service,” said Beerud Sheth, chief executive officer of SMS GupShup, to ‘The Mobile Indian’.
He added: “This application will still be based on SMS platforms as in India data connection even amongst smartphone users is low, and many areas still do not have decent enough wireless connectivity, so while the application will make it easier for users to easily use the service, they will not need to bother about paying for the data connectivity or wait for the stuffs to download”.
The application will also offer Facebook integration, so that users can update of their Facebook account or see other updates even where there is no data connectivity.
He claims that in India, GupShup is bigger than Facebook, it is only that Facebook gets more hype. GupShup, Sheth claims, has more than 45 million registered users while Facebook only had 25 million members in India till April this year.
Users who wish to use the GupShup service currently can do so by sending Join (group name) to 567678. You can also create a group by sending ‘Create’ (group name) to 567678, and subsequently inviting your friends to join the group. Once you join you will be guided how to use the service. Sending the massages there after to the group is very easy as you have to type just one number and the SMS will go to each member of the group for free. (SMS will have add at the bottom).
You can also use the service by visiting https://www.smsgupshup.com. One of the interesting stuff that you can do is sending long SMS with as many as 640 characters in just one massage at just 7 paisa. You can also join groups like ‘Mumbai Traffic Police’ to get regular updates related to traffic, or cricket news for cricket scores etc. There are paid premium groups and SMS applications also that is owned and operated by the users themselves.