Google India Launches SMS Channel Service

October 1, 2008

By sinha

Google India has launched SMS channels service that enables users to create their own sms channel or simply receive sms updates from google groups/news and even blog feeds.

“Google SMS Channels is a free service that enables you to get premium content published by Google partners and websites with RSS/Atom support for free.

SMS Channels allows you to create your own channel(s) to publish content that other users can subscribe to.”

Google SMS Channels

Unlike smsgupshup (which, incidentally powers pluGGd.in’s feed-to-sms service), Google’s SMS channel is two-way and enables a discussion enabling subscribers to publish to the channel (an optional feature).

Why it feels half baked?

Because Zook is doing a far better job – they recently launched an alert service that enables one to track deals/movie updates (for instance, receive updates only for English movies playing at PVR @ Forum Mall, or track nokia deals in Bangalore etc..) and whole lot of other content like events, weather, traffic updates, cricket news/scores, etc.

Similarly, MyToday (sends 12 million SMS everyday) offers customized channels like astrology/cricket/news etc which are far richer in content and aren’t just reading feeds.

Having said that, Google’s SMS channel works great for publishers – they get a newer hook to keep users engaged, which none of the other services are offering.

The weird part about a generic service like this is that they may not get the community love (and very soon lose relevance).
Let’s look at it this way – Google’s SMS Channels will compete with Vakow, MyToday and SMSGupshup etc – all of these services have ‘initial mover advantage’ and serve specific intents, while Google’s SMS service looks more like a PoC.

I am not too sure whether Google’s SMS service will go beyond the geeky users/bloggers (and will ever reach mainstream).

Whats your take on Google’s SMS Channel service?

By the way, here goes pluGGd.in channel - subscribe to receive feed updates.

Tags: google, Launch

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boomerang on October 2, 2008 at 2:49 am

this is a totally half ass work from google. i bet its a 20% from an intern

Google SMS Channels-Better Late than Never « Watching MVAS Industry on October 2, 2008 at 12:12 pm

[...] that’s what Google did by starting ‘Google SMS Channels‘. I see a Veterans saying its Half Baked, its interesting, explaining what it might cost for Google . All said and done , its always better [...]

Raxit Sheth on October 2, 2008 at 1:54 pm

Vakow Seems to more impressive !

nuhman on January 22, 2009 at 2:13 am

more impressive and knowledgable

poseidon on October 2, 2008 at 2:16 pm

I always wonder, how do they end up making money? 12 million sms per day would drain any start-up’s resources quite fast. I would appreciate if someone can shed light on this aspect.

kamal on October 3, 2008 at 9:53 am

Yeah.. I would like to know that too

even though getting sms credits for about 3-5 paisa with 50-60 paise per advertisements.. its hard to account for daily spendings!!! (no. of ads availabl to be served daily) someone let me knw hw this thing works..

Rohit on October 4, 2008 at 7:46 pm

They will be competing with Rajesh Jain’s My Today I guess. Any other prominent players?

Ashish on October 5, 2008 at 1:52 pm

@kamal,@poseidon : Both smsgupshup and mytoday insert text ads along with sms.
In general, the smses sent are of ~100-120 chars and the remaining are used for text ads.

The CPM rates are quite low, though.

-Ashish

Kamal on October 5, 2008 at 2:41 pm

12 million SMS

(assumption1) INR 0.05 per SMS

Total SMS Credit Cost ( per day) – INR 6 L per day

(assumption2) Ad cost per SMS ( 80 or 100 Char per SMS whatever) – INR 0.65

So no. of Ads to be served everyday to balance the amount spent on buying 12 million SMS credits : (6,00,000 / 0.65) -> A huge no.

Where do they get so many advertisers ! ( Correct me if assumptions are wrong or I have done anything stupid above )

Ashish on October 5, 2008 at 3:07 pm

Few numbers:
SMS cost ~30-40 paise. CPM rate ~12-15 paise..
Per day loss : say, 15 paise per sms, say Rs. 2 mn

And that’s why the need for funding.

For now, I believe Netcore has enough cash (remember Rajesh’s early venture that was acquired for ~150mn $ (dont recall the exact number)..
Same applies to smsgupshup (they are rumored to have raised $10mn).

Weekly Recap [Sep 29th – Oct 5th] |Technology and Business Startups in India on October 6, 2008 at 9:03 am

[...] Google India Launches SMS Channel Service [...]

Ninja on October 7, 2008 at 3:11 pm

This is an exciting space and it looks like these companies are only going to get bigger and better.

Helion and CRV Confirm smsgupshup funding |Technology and Business Startups in India on October 7, 2008 at 6:03 pm

[...] Interestingly, the announcements comes in the wake of Google’s launch of SMS Channel service. [...]

Funding for Mobile Plays « A Penny For My Game? on October 9, 2008 at 10:00 pm

chathz on November 5, 2008 at 7:23 pm

may be there are enough advertisers out there. if they are at loss they will not still be here

akash corporation on December 31, 2008 at 12:41 pm

hi how r u &

sulla on November 30, 2009 at 10:44 pm

sajita……..ne guddalu akash gadiki chala istam

sajitha on January 15, 2009 at 2:54 am

To get free Cricket Score updates on your mobile. Send ON CRICKETLIVESCOREBOARD to 09870807070 from your mobile.

sai on January 17, 2009 at 8:51 pm

i want upcmng updates alerts on campus fests

shekhar on February 13, 2009 at 11:12 pm

rely great……….keep it up

rahul on February 23, 2009 at 2:40 pm

Bhathee on March 3, 2009 at 12:57 pm

Aaj phir yaad Teri Aayi hai,
Aaj phir Raat kat naa paayegi,
Aaj phir Nain mere barsenge,
Aaj phir Neend rooth jaayegi,
Aaj phir Dil tujhe pukaarega,
Aaj phir Aas Toot jaayegi….

SAJITHA on March 21, 2009 at 2:53 pm

I noticed today my Cricket-score SMS channel (CRICKETLIVESCOREBOARD) hit a new milestone and broke pass the 40,000 subscribers mark.

MANISH on March 25, 2009 at 1:16 pm

Aaj phir Raat kat naa paayegi,
Aaj phir Nain mere barsenge,
Aaj phir Neend rooth jaayegi,
Aaj phir Dil tujhe pukaarega,
Aaj phir Aas Toot jaayegi

Sabarish on April 4, 2009 at 4:20 pm

One f d Gud plan it s…

M.Salim Amjadi on April 23, 2009 at 10:53 am

it is a better for you
i am also have a channel in it
by name ASHRAFI2

Abhishek on May 13, 2009 at 3:42 pm

sasson ka chalna itefaq nahi hota,Dilo ko dilo par aitbar nahi hota lakh kosis kare hum tumhe bhoolane ki par dharkano ko rokna aasan nahi hota.

Fullner on May 30, 2009 at 8:48 am

Good info, urges to try now with Google SMS. Thank you !

sarath on June 20, 2009 at 1:00 pm

hiiiiiiii..

send me a free circket score, updates, match schudle

muhammed nafi on July 12, 2009 at 12:54 pm

pls i want all alerts on every thing
in my mobile +919496847473

vipul kumar sharma on July 25, 2009 at 9:55 pm

ITs really……good
some one think its fake……..but that’s not true….
its a really good service
i recive 12 to 20 msg dailyfree of cost…….realy nice…….
something iss good than empty………..
isin’t…..
nice……
google
thanks to you
if u have more service like this than inform me………….

tapas das on July 28, 2009 at 6:55 pm

its really good .it helps me a lot

Faisal on September 19, 2009 at 2:28 pm

I used to get free sms from google channels daily on two of my mobile numbers viz 9205176577 and 9018657755 but suddenly they got stopped on a single day.I got a message on both like “rchd max limit” and frm that day no smss at all.Plz help at fsbhat2009@yahoo.co.in