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SMS-based social networking service SMS GupShup is launching an upgraded version of its SMS networking service which will enable incoming messages to by-pass the SMS-inbox and appear in a separate data-box.
The new GupShup Group Messenger (GGM) will be an application where all messages the user receives from GupShup will appear inside the GGM app and will “de-clutter” the user's SMS inbox.
“We are building a new data product which will also enable users to group chat with members on the app,” Mr Viswanath Ramachandran, Co-Founder and CTO, SMS GupShup, told Business Line . The GGM app will also enable group chat with other users.
“The idea is that it will become a multifunctional thing where the user gets the content and can connect with other users,” he added.
SMS GupShup, a six-year-old service, is a mobile phone-based networking service where users can register on the portal, form interest groups and post messages which would be automatically shared with other members by SMS. The company earns revenues through its marketing service GupShup Marketing Solutions, which offers solutions to enterprises interested in mobile advertising.
The company recently raised about $10 million from venture capital firms for the GGM innovation. The new service will be launched by this year-end, Mr Ramachandran said.
Richer interaction
The new service will offer richer interaction — as users get all the content they subscribe to and can also have group chats other members; and lower costs — since users won't have to pay SMS charges, Mr Ramachandran said.
“As we scale up to every Indian mobile user, we are voice-enabling every product as it helps cross the literacy and language barrier,” Mr Ramachandran said. Also, with GGM, the company will be able to control the letters display on the screen and the service will be available in all languages.
“The texting market is reduced today because lot of people cannot text in different languages, so we believe that with GGM, we can address a larger market for text messaging in India,” he pointed out.
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