foonz group calling service gets a shortcode

By Vivek | July 30th, 2007 at 09:31 am ET         

foonz today added a shortcode to it’s feature list that would very well reduce the friction in getting started with the service. I had written about this group calling service couple of times before. From the very start, the service enabled users to initiate a group call by calling the foonz number. However that is not a convenient option for the young crowd who are more hands on with texting. To get to that target group, foonz has now enabled it’s users to text START to foonz (36669) and get on with their group call.

To get into details about how the feature really works -  foonz sends a text message with simple text instructions for how to start the call.  When the user initiates the call, foonzMobile sends instant invitations to participants via text message to their cell phones.  After that just like a typical conference call, participants dial the number in the invitation to join the call and foonz connects everyone together.  

If some contacts aren?t available, the call initiator can leave a message just for them on the same call, completing the communication loop with everyone in the group. Those contacts receive a text letting them know they have a message waiting and instructions for retrieving it.

As for the actual way to start the call, you can text START and include names from your contact list names(ex: START Mary, Joe, George) or start a call with a previously defined group (ex: START family).