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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
MobileSphere to Accelerate Growth and Adoption of Text Messaging in North America
BOSTON--Dec. 19, 2006--MobileSphere, a leading-edge provider of global
communications solutions, today announced it has launched a new, enhanced
version of Joopz(TM), its "web texting" service that enables two-way text
messaging from the Web to any mobile phone in the United States and Canada.
Joopz allows users to send text messages from the Web to both individuals
and groups, while enabling recipients to respond directly to the sender's
PC or Mac.
Responding to the increasing demands of users that send text
messages, MobileSphere added new features to www.joopz.com, including
SMS broadcast capabilities.
"Since its introduction at DEMOfall '06 less than three months
ago, Joopz has been very well-received by SMS and wireless users here
in the U.S. and around the world who are seeking new, convenient and
cost-effective ways to send text messages," commented Gavin Macomber,
MobileSphere's executive vice president of marketing. "We believe the
new features and upgrade capabilities will further assist consumers,
whether they are new to text messaging or avid users, and thus
accelerate the growth of text messaging, particularly here in the U.S.
and Canada."
Having the ability to send text messages from one's desktop will
expand the reach and adoption of text messaging, especially in North
America, where some age groups are not yet familiar or find text
messaging from traditional cell phones to be time-consuming and
cumbersome. Already, a Joopz "web text" is sent from www.joopz.com
approximately every two minutes.
Joopz(TM) new and existing features include:
-- Two-Way "Web Texting" - send and receive text messages from
the Web to any mobile phone.
-- Group Broadcast - users can send a text message that goes to
an entire group, and each recipients' response goes to the
original sender only.
-- Group Chat - users can send a text message to a group, and
each recipient's response goes to all group members.
-- Scheduled Texting - users can send delayed text messages for
recipients to receive at a specific time - a day from now, a
week from now, a year from now - great for birthdays,
anniversaries and other key events. This feature is time-zone
specific.
-- SMS Forwarding - users can have Joopz messages forwarded to
their cell phone so they can continue their conversation when
they leave their desktop computer.
-- Text Reminders - users can track what they need to do with
texts that are sent to them as reminders. This feature is
time-zone specific.
-- Contact Management - users can add and manage both individual
and group contacts.
-- History - all text messages sent and received are recorded for
future reference.
"Joopz uniquely bridges the gap between instant messaging (IM) and
short message service (SMS), providing near real-time collaboration
between a PC and a mobile phone," commented David Coleman, managing
director at Collaborative Strategies. "Unlike popular mobile IM
solutions like AIM, Yahoo and MSN, Joopz enables users to send and
receive text messages from any web-enabled device to any mobile phone,
without having the need to download special software or other
applications."
MobileSphere notes that customers from all over the world are
using Joopz to communicate with U.S. and Canadian cell phone users,
ranging from parents who want to stay in touch with their teenagers,
to college students planning group events, to a soldier in Afghanistan
keeping in touch with loved ones back home. Joopz not only bridges
technologies together, but it is bridging the generation gap between
those who text message regularly and those who have been hesitant to
try it, either due to accessibility, cost or ease-of-use.
Pricing and Availability
Available now, Joopz offers two service plans:
1) A free offering that includes ten (10) sent text messages per
month, including text reminders and scheduled message delivery,
message forwarding, group chatting, SMS broadcasting and basic contact
management, and unlimited received messages.
2) A subscription-based premium service that includes the basic
service offerings plus unlimited text messaging per month and access
to advanced features such as history and contact management. The
premium service offers a choice of payment plans - A month-to-month
subscription fee at $2.95 per month, or an annual subscription fee for
$19.95 per year.
Joopz is available directly to consumers online and indirectly
through strategic partners such as wireless carriers, MVNOs, colleges,
universities, Internet media and social networking companies. For
partnership opportunities, contact MobileSphere at
sales@mobile-sphere.com. For more information about Joopz or to sign
up for the free, basic service or the new subscription-based service,
visit http://www.joopz.com/how-it-works.
About MobileSphere
Headquartered in Boston, Mass., MobileSphere has been a leading
provider of global wireless communications solutions since 2001.
Utilizing its patent-pending soft-switch technology, coupled with its
global Tier 1 network, MobileSphere provides its customers with
innovative, highly-competitive, market-proven solutions. Leveraging
the migration from fixed to mobile communications and serving
customers worldwide, the company focuses on the communications needs
of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), colleges and
universities, medium-to-large enterprises and consumers.
MobileSphere's services include CarrierILD(TM) for MVNOs,
CellularLD(TM) for consumers and small businesses, MobileU(TM) for
universities and educational institutions and Joopz(TM) for consumers.
For additional information, visit http://www.mobile-sphere.com.
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