The group messaging service GroupMe scored the Breakout Digital Trend Award at SXSW this year. We explored the new tool, finding different ways publishers, writers, and book clubs could use the free service.
The core service helps groups create text message chatrooms: “Start groups with the people already in your contacts. When you send a message, everyone instantly receives it—it’s like a private chat room that works on any phone.”
Using this tool, publishers could coordinate exclusive chats with authors or create reading conversations. Writers could set up mobile writing groups, sharing thoughts with a group of like-minded friends.
The company also offers free conference calls and text message groups. This could be an ideal tool for communicating with your book club: “Each group has a unique phone number. Text that number, and the message goes to everyone in the group. Call it and start an instant conference call.”
Finally, GroupMe is only one group messaging service among a sea of new start-ups. If you want more options, check out Beluga, Kik, Fast Society, or Yobongo.