Ask HN: Rate my free group texting service with public API

by geoffc • 16 years ago

13 22 16 years ago

geoffc11• 16 years ago

I just launched the API today so any feedback on it would be greatly appreciated. The direct link to the API is http://www.groupflier.com/api.html

P.S. Click the phone image to watch the video easter egg

endtime• 16 years ago

If you don't mind my asking, what's your business model?

geoffc11• 16 years ago

The VC's are funding a few companies in this space on the hope that this is the future of social networking. If that happens the biggest network will be able to monetize the traffic with tag line ads, mobile ads, coupons or the like. Until then the VC's are paying the freight for all the SMS traffic so enjoy the free texting :-)

yantramanav• 16 years ago

It looks like a killer app to me. There is a similar service in India called SMSGupShup which is a big hit.

best luck!

ameyamk• 16 years ago

What are you using for telephony integration? twilio?

geoffc11• 16 years ago

Yes

johnrob• 16 years ago

"Add a row" is not a good call to action since "row" is a developer term. I'd go with something like "Add more users".

geoffc11• 16 years ago

Thanks, will do!

geoffc11• 16 years ago

Done and live. I went with "Add more".

JocoProductions• 16 years ago

Great service, I might have to switch my fraternity which is using a paid and broken service (textmelater.com) over to this. One quick thing though. The title tag of the form field didn't show up on Mac FF (3.6.13) and it isn't apparently obvious what the fields are there for. Maybe add a label to the fields or at least the top name and number fields to make them stand out more.

geoffc11• 16 years ago

Rat's I will look at that version of FF. If you switch over I would appreciate the feedback on how it works for you.

joshma4• 16 years ago

Awesome idea, maybe biased because my friend and I were talking about a similar idea maybe just a week ago. :) Maybe some way to import contacts? Not sure if it's overkill, but maybe worth considering.

geoffc11• 16 years ago

Thanks! We are looking at ways to use your address book to make group creation easier. Our upcoming iphone app will allow you to do that but we would also like to enable it from the web as well.

joshma4• 16 years ago

Ouch, does Your Groups work? I typed in my mobile number and it said it couldn't be found, now it's alerting THROTTLE since I probably tried too many times haha.

geoffc11• 16 years ago

Ah, I think I know what is going on. Did you send a welcome message to the group from your cell phone? If you didn't then your group is staged and not yet created. I need to check for numbers in the staged groups as well. Thanks for the feedback.

joshma4• 16 years ago

Suggestion, change * for commands to something else. I like to use * to correct typos.

geoffc11• 16 years ago

I picked * as it is a primary key on a regular cellphone keypad. I might add the option for the user to customize the command prompt. Thanks for the feedback.

joshma4• 16 years ago

Oh wow, that makes a lot of sense actually. Sorry for my bias, snobby iphone user here.

tdd• 16 years ago

Service sounds fantastic, can't wait to see more progress on it!

Also suggestion - I think the design could use some work, have you considered making the grey footer abit bit lighter so there is better contrast with your links?

I would also create real text on your page, for example the "free text messaging groups for friends, family, colleagues" could easily be in text rather than a .gif

Keep up the good work!

geoffc11• 16 years ago

Thanks for the feedback, I will pass this on to our graphics guru.

harrisonhjones• 16 years ago

Just noticed something, when you click "Your Groups" and then enter your phone # it tells you to enter a pin. If you click off of that box while waiting for your pin the damn pin box goes away. Kinda annoying because now you have to do everything again

geoffc11• 16 years ago

Thanks, will fix.

Ask HN: Rate my free group texting service with public API

Related Stories