SMS Emergency Response, text loops and tactical communications
Best practices for sending text message blasting
Tool Characteristics
- exportable message data
- ability to set rules about who can send/subscribe
- short codes are way easier than 10 digit numbers for signing people up
- manages scale, no delays, able to handle 1000s of subscribers
- costs
Tool Survey
Off the shelf SMS tools
- TextMarks - using on current mobilization projects
- BeGrouped - maybe falling down a bit
- Cel.ly - current mobilization projects in NY; able to phone blast
- GroupMe - doesn't charge for SMS delivery and can use platform messaging on smartphones
- MobilizeUs - Cheaper
- Beluga/FacebookMessaging
- MobileCommons(mCommons) - nonprofit org
Off the shelf alternative tools
UrbanAirship - delivers only to smartphones with much cheaper GroundCrew.us to see the location of a group of trusted folks carrying GPS aware smartphones - uses google latitude - cellphone carriers all have locations LocationLabs will sell location of cell users who have "agreed" to be tracked
FrontlineSMS -- put a mobile card into a server Revolution Messaging can supply short codes faster and supply consulting services in addition to SMS services
Use Cases
Large, general subscription lists for emergency alerts/fast response
tactical loop; restricted membership; goes to contacts within different constituencies on day-of
medical loop
legal loop
flash mobs request loop
working group for organizing
What's up With Text
Actual Text Message costs are divided between the receiver and the sender
pass-through costs are about 2cents a message once you get to scale
No systems deliver to low-costs carriers ( i.e. MetroPCS )
Obtaining your own short code is expensive and can take months to apply for
Twilio/Tropo can scale for building SMS/voice apps
costs may not be comparable
require a developer to build services on top of the API
Carrier and tech fragmentation is scary/closed system; are open alternatives on the horizon
Sending SMS or having a short code allows people to pull money from the users phone bill to their account, i.e. short code donations.
With smartphones there alternative ways of sending and receiving messages, which can decrease costs
FreedomPhone is a distribution of Android to improve security; IMEI number may be the same regardless.
OpenBTS is based on GNU Radio project and lets you build your own cellphone tower for act $2K-used at burning man or in disaster recovery scenarios