Google India Launches SMS Channel Service

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

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.

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  • comment(s) on Google India Launches SMS Channel Service

    43 Responses to Google India Launches SMS Channel Service

    1. boomerang says:

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

    2. Pingback: Google SMS Channels-Better Late than Never « Watching MVAS Industry

    3. Raxit Sheth says:

      Vakow Seems to more impressive !

    4. poseidon says:

      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.

    5. kamal says:

      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..

    6. Rohit says:

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

    7. Ashish says:

      @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

    8. Kamal says:

      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 says:

        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).

    9. Pingback: Weekly Recap [Sep 29th – Oct 5th] |Technology and Business Startups in India

    10. Ninja says:

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

    11. Pingback: Helion and CRV Confirm smsgupshup funding |Technology and Business Startups in India

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    13. chathz says:

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

    14. sajitha says:

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

    15. sai says:

      i want upcmng updates alerts on campus fests

    16. shekhar says:

      rely great……….keep it up

    17. Bhathee says:

      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….

    18. SAJITHA says:

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

    19. MANISH says:

      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

    20. Sabarish says:

      One f d Gud plan it s…

    21. M.Salim Amjadi says:

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

    22. Abhishek says:

      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.

    23. Fullner says:

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

    24. sarath says:

      hiiiiiiii..

      send me a free circket score, updates, match schudle

    25. muhammed nafi says:

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

    26. vipul kumar sharma says:

      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………….

    27. tapas das says:

      its really good .it helps me a lot

    28. Faisal says:

      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

    29. sudeep says:

      its really a nice google service to update with news

    30. Yadu says:

      Ya !it lookin greatt,i used job alert ,& its providing matched jobs (real time) 2-3 daily

    31. Pooja says:

      hi pls join all my sms channels,
      just send,
      Join PujaLove4u
      to 9870807070
      -
      Join LoveVILLA
      to 9870807070
      -
      Join Multi_Media
      to 9870807070
      ..

      Pls promote my groups..

    32. DEVENDRA says:

      IT IS REALLY WONDERFULL GROUPS FOR ALL

      DEVEDNRA
      PUNE
      09975702220
      MED PLUS

    33. Receive SMS in your inbox without a mobile. Get rewarded for sending free sms,SMS2MINT is one stop shop for all your personal free sms needs.

    34. FIMS says:

      assalamu alaikum