New Text Messaging Apps Coming to a Smartphone Near You
March 11, 2011
By Susan J. Campbell,
TMCnet Contributing Editor
Text messaging – it is all the rage and the one means for communicating that teens, consumers and business users alike know how to leverage to the best of its capabilities. The good news is that there is a new wave of messaging apps for smartphones, such as Yobongo and GroupMe. And, thanks to this Business Insider report, we can take a look at the latest and greatest in text messaging.
With GroupMe, you can create a special number for texting or conferencing calling a group of friends. You can view your group members’ location, start a chat or use Foursquare (News - Alert) to check in somewhere. GroupMe is available for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry. For the iPhone user only, Fast Soceity lets you set up a group text of conference call with one number. The app will also share your location with everyone in your group.
Beluga, a new Facebook acquisition, is a text messaging app lets you chat group style with your friends. You can also share photos and your location using the iPhone (News - Alert) or the Android. Yobongo just launched in Austin, New York and San Francisco and lets you chat with random strangers nearby. The “stalking” app is available for free for the iPhone.
With TextPlus, text messaging is free and easy on the iPhone or Android (News - Alert). You can enjoy unlimited text massages or easily find your friends. The same platforms also support Kik, which sends messages instantly and you receive a notification when it has been read.
While the name might be a little tacky, TigerText allows you to send private text messages over a secure network. Messages can be set to automatically delete after a certain amount of time to avoid snooping. This approach to text messaging may not suggest cheating on a spouse, but the name has certain implications.
Mogwee is a group messaging platform that also offers group chats, the ability to play simple games and share photos with friends. iPhone is the only available platform right now, but expect Android and mobile web versions in the near future.
Here’s one you may not have seen coming – BlackBerry (News 
- Alert) Messenger for the iPhone. RIM is actually considering making the move and non-BlackBerry users would be charged a fee. Details right now are lacking, but more should soon follow.
This interesting world of text messaging is certainly evolving with a whole range of new applications. If you aren’t sure which one will work best for you – it looks like you have a lot of free options to try.
Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMCnet and has also written for eastbiz.com. To read more of Susan’s articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Stefanie Mosca
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