Comments on: SMS (Text Message) Notifications for my band students! http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/sms-text-message-notifications-for-my-band-students/ Experiences and thoughts on music and teaching elementary and secondary band. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:32:56 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Doug Butchy http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/sms-text-message-notifications-for-my-band-students/#comment-80 Doug Butchy Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:07:10 +0000 http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-80 UPDATE 2 - I have been using Upoc.com for several months now with no problems. The kids love the text message alerts, and in fact, they even call me on it when I forget to send out a rehearsal reminder! UPDATE 2 -

I have been using Upoc.com for several months now with no problems. The kids love the text message alerts, and in fact, they even call me on it when I forget to send out a rehearsal reminder!

]]> By: Matt Penn http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/sms-text-message-notifications-for-my-band-students/#comment-64 Matt Penn Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:56:55 +0000 http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-64 You might also checkout http://www.jabbertext.com for group text messaging. We have many students groups that use this service. You might also checkout http://www.jabbertext.com for group text messaging. We have many students groups that use this service.

]]> By: Rbowen http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/sms-text-message-notifications-for-my-band-students/#comment-63 Rbowen Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:40:20 +0000 http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-63 The offers like described in the posting, when used at the Higher Education levels have been debated for a couple of years now. At quite a few colleges and universities who looked to minimize their cost agreed to include marketing items or to allow the provider to send unsolicited marketing messages to the groups, in some cases has resulted in less than 10% participation by the students in the emergency alert system. So the alerts are not getting to the students. A survey done in the 4th qtr. of 2007 showed that as much as 72% of the students do not want marketing messages sent to their phones. There are companies, like Agile Communications Group, that facilitate the small users by offering no setup fees, no monthly fees, just an inexpensive per message fee. You get all the same and more bell and whistles like the larger users but with greater participation. The offers like described in the posting, when used at the Higher Education levels have been debated for a couple of years now. At quite a few colleges and universities who looked to minimize their cost agreed to include marketing items or to allow the provider to send unsolicited marketing messages to the groups, in some cases has resulted in less than 10% participation by the students in the emergency alert system. So the alerts are not getting to the students.

A survey done in the 4th qtr. of 2007 showed that as much as 72% of the students do not want marketing messages sent to their phones.

There are companies, like Agile Communications Group, that facilitate the small users by offering no setup fees, no monthly fees, just an inexpensive per message fee. You get all the same and more bell and whistles like the larger users but with greater participation.

]]> By: Doug Butchy http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/sms-text-message-notifications-for-my-band-students/#comment-62 Doug Butchy Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:10:03 +0000 http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-62 Thanks Dan, for the clarification. Your service would be extremely valuable to me, but I'm concerned that the ads could cause some minor problems, since we are dealing with students. I will be looking forward to an ad-free version soon! Your comments are greatly appreciated! If I wasn't using this for a school-based organization, I would absolutely use it! Thanks Dan, for the clarification. Your service would be extremely valuable to me, but I’m concerned that the ads could cause some minor problems, since we are dealing with students. I will be looking forward to an ad-free version soon! Your comments are greatly appreciated! If I wasn’t using this for a school-based organization, I would absolutely use it!

]]> By: Dan Kamins http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/sms-text-message-notifications-for-my-band-students/#comment-61 Dan Kamins Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:59:04 +0000 http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-61 Hi Joe & Doug, To clarify TextMarks ( http://www.textmarks.com/ ) ad policy: * We DO include small ads in the footers of messages sent out, to offset our messaging costs. * We DO NOT send ads unsolicited -- only in footers of messages sent by our users. * And best of all, stay tuned... Within a couple of weeks (Sep '08) we'll have an easy to use system for ad-free service, perfectly suitable for professional/enterprise or sensitive (education, religion, politics, etc.) contexts. And if you're especially motivated and technically inclined, check out our developer center too, where you can easily integrate TextMarks more deeply into your web applications with our powerful SMS API: http://www.textmarks.com/dev/ Dan Kamins CTO, TextMarks Hi Joe & Doug,

To clarify TextMarks ( http://www.textmarks.com/ ) ad policy:
* We DO include small ads in the footers of messages sent out, to offset our messaging costs.
* We DO NOT send ads unsolicited — only in footers of messages sent by our users.
* And best of all, stay tuned… Within a couple of weeks (Sep ‘08) we’ll have an easy to use system for ad-free service, perfectly suitable for professional/enterprise or sensitive (education, religion, politics, etc.) contexts.

And if you’re especially motivated and technically inclined, check out our developer center too, where you can easily integrate TextMarks more deeply into your web applications with our powerful SMS API: http://www.textmarks.com/dev/

Dan Kamins
CTO, TextMarks

]]> By: Doug Butchy http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/sms-text-message-notifications-for-my-band-students/#comment-60 Doug Butchy Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:58:51 +0000 http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-60 HI April, These are all things that I have been pondering when using this service. This particular service does not include an email service, but the idea here is that the SMS service would merely be used as a reminder-type system...not necessarily a sole method of disseminating information. It would just be used as an extra way to send info. Great thoughts - I appreciate it! HI April,

These are all things that I have been pondering when using this service. This particular service does not include an email service, but the idea here is that the SMS service would merely be used as a reminder-type system…not necessarily a sole method of disseminating information. It would just be used as an extra way to send info. Great thoughts – I appreciate it!

]]> By: April http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/sms-text-message-notifications-for-my-band-students/#comment-59 April Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:53:01 +0000 http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-59 Technology is amazing (well, MOST of the time), especially in classrooms. Had a class that was based on discussing/researching different technologies that can be used in the classroom. Question about that site though...Can students receive updates through e-mail or any other form besides SMS? Although most students have cell phones some still do not, and even then they may not have text messaging. Some students may feel "left out" if they are not allowed/are unable to get the text messages. Are you going to be doing some type of form for the parents to sign - in case someone doesn't have free text messaging, etc. =D Technology is amazing (well, MOST of the time), especially in classrooms. Had a class that was based on discussing/researching different technologies that can be used in the classroom.

Question about that site though…Can students receive updates through e-mail or any other form besides SMS? Although most students have cell phones some still do not, and even then they may not have text messaging. Some students may feel “left out” if they are not allowed/are unable to get the text messages.

Are you going to be doing some type of form for the parents to sign – in case someone doesn’t have free text messaging, etc. =D

]]> By: Doug Butchy http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/sms-text-message-notifications-for-my-band-students/#comment-58 Doug Butchy Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:48:16 +0000 http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-58 Joe, Thanks for the advice. I will check out the site closely to make sure that students will not be receiving anything inappropriate before I really launch it to all of my students. And, as far as the age thing goes, I do not plan on students under 13 using the service, either. It may be appropriate to consult with the appropriate administrator in my district. Thanks, Joe! Joe, Thanks for the advice. I will check out the site closely to make sure that students will not be receiving anything inappropriate before I really launch it to all of my students. And, as far as the age thing goes, I do not plan on students under 13 using the service, either. It may be appropriate to consult with the appropriate administrator in my district. Thanks, Joe!

]]> By: J. Pisano http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/2008/08/28/sms-text-message-notifications-for-my-band-students/#comment-57 J. Pisano Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:56:15 +0000 http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-57 Doug, I know your excited about this service, but I would caution you or anyone from not reading their privacy policy and the content of the ads service. Their privace policy states: Children The TextMarks Service is not intended for children under 13, and TextMarks does not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 13. **** And also, I think you could find yourself in a board meeting at some point explaining why your kids were texted an advertisment about "meeting singles" or materials that are not school friendy.... As of now, they do not offer a paid service for removal of ads... Just a heads up so you know what you may "getting into". As far as a service goes... it is pretty neat. The only thing holding me back from endorsing it whole-heartedly is the above... J. Pisano -mustech.net Doug,

I know your excited about this service, but I would caution you or anyone from not reading their privacy policy and the content of the ads service. Their privace policy states:

Children
The TextMarks Service is not intended for children under 13, and TextMarks does not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 13.

****

And also, I think you could find yourself in a board meeting at some point explaining why your kids were texted an advertisment about “meeting singles” or materials that are not school friendy….

As of now, they do not offer a paid service for removal of ads… Just a heads up so you know what you may “getting into”.

As far as a service goes… it is pretty neat. The only thing holding me back from endorsing it whole-heartedly is the above…

J. Pisano -mustech.net

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