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.

Using osom.me via sms, #commands

To post status update 
Any sms to osom.me that doesn't begin with #, is treated as post, e.g. Just woke up, hungry, sleepy, happy! will be posted on your timeline for friends to see. Any command begins with #, e.g. #help

To invite/accept friends
To sucessfully use osom.me you need only 3 commands: #invite, #yes, #no
#INVITE NAME NUMBER - invite new friend
#YES - accept latest invite
#YES NUMBER - accept invite from NUMBER
#NO NUMBER - decline or cancel invite, or remove confirmed friend
Here NAME is a nick you give to your friend, max 12 latin chars, beginning with letter, symbols not allowed, visible to friend. NUMBER is international notation without "+" e.g. in LV it is 3712xxxxxxx


Examples

• you get first invite - reply to osom.me #yes to accept it. 
• you want to invite John to be your friend - reply to osom.me #invite John 3712*******
• you decide to cancel invitation to/from John - reply to osom.me #no 3712*******
• you received 2 invites: from Jack (37121111111) and from Ann (37122222222). You want to accept Ann, but ignore Jack. reply to osom.me #yes 37122222222
• if you just received just one invite, or you received several invites but want to accept the latest one - reply to osom.me #yes without any number.

Direct messaging
To send private messages to a friend begin message with @username , e.g.
@john private message visible only to you and John

Other useful commands, but no need to memorize them
#HELP
#LISTFRIENDS - list confirmed friends
#LISTINVITES - list any invite sent or received by you
#NAME NEWNAME - change own nick
#RENAME OLDNAME NEWNAME - rename friend, visible only to you
#REG - generate new password for web access
#SILENCE [x] - silence sms notificatons [for x hours]. If you ever send any sms to the service, notifications will resume again
#QUIT