2012/05/28

Private messages

New feature is here - private messages! Now you can send private message to a friend by starting message with @username, e.g. if you have friend called "John", send sms

@john sometextwhichonlyYouandJohncansee

for ease of use, in the web form, each post has "reply" link

which brings you to the input form with @address already filled in

When you receive a private message, it is highlighted in RED

In sms, it would look like 5d, Vita: @YOU: Molodca! Ja s toboj!

Enjoy.

2012/05/04

We answer: Why SMS?

This post explains why we weaved sms so deeply into osom.me. Some stats from http://www.businessinsider.com/the-future-of-mobile-deck-2012-3#-16

First, there are 5.6B dumbphone users in the world, vs. 835million smartphone users. And take into account, that large share of smartphone users do not use mobile internet, or use WiFi only. This means, that there are roughly 10 times more people who can send/receive sms vs. those who can browse mobile web or use apps.


And while smartphones recently took lead in sales, there is still huge installed base of dumbphones.


Conversion from dumbphones to smartphones began couple of   years ago, and will take many another 5-7 years, until smartphones will dominate installed base.


So, if you want a social network that could be used TODAY by all of your friends, by people that either do not care about mobile fashion, or older people, or poorer people - sms is the way to go.

Upcoming features: @replies, trollface, URGENT messages

We are going to expand osom functionality soon. 

First, we will add direct replies @username. There will be  button to create such reply in web. The same functionality in sms, will be achieved by creating message that starts with @username - e.g. @vita sometextsometextsometext



2nd, we will add one more emoticon (trollface) and a special button "!". 

Posting with "!" creates urgent message that goes immediately to all your friends. Initially, we will allow one URGENT messages per day. If it becomes popular feature, we may consider selling extra "!" credits.