Start a Text Messaging and Conference Calling Group
Sending a mass text message is easy—most of our phones do this with little problem. However, carrying on a group conversation with everyone included in the mass text message is tricky, since replies are only received by the original sender.
GroupMe.com has created a way to carry on group-based conversations over text messaging, and as a bonus, the same service allows users to instantly conference call everyone in the group.
To start a group, enter a name for the group and your cell phone number on the site’s homepage and click Start Group.
On the next screen, you are given a telephone number for your group to use. Write this number down, or save it in your phone. Before adding friends to your group, you must enter your email address and choose a password. Click Create Account when finished.
Your phone will receive a verification text. Enter the code from the text on the next screen.
After verifying your number, click the blue Add Members button on the right of the screen. Enter your friends’ contact information to add them to you group. You can also import numbers from your Gmail contact list.
Once set up, sending a group text is just a matter of texting your group’s number. To conference call, dial the number and it will call everyone in your group.
Your group’s number can be disconnected at any time by sending a text to the number that just says #end. You can also you text commands to add members (#add) or start a new group (#new).
For iPhone users, Groupme has its own app, available in the App Store.
GroupMe is a great tool for organizing events, collaborating with a group, or just keeping up with family. One major drawback to the program is it only works with US phone numbers.
Everyone in your group must have a US phone number for the service to work. In a global, digital community, we can only hope the service will eventually offer international options as well.
GroupMe.com has created a way to carry on group-based conversations over text messaging, and as a bonus, the same service allows users to instantly conference call everyone in the group.
To start a group, enter a name for the group and your cell phone number on the site’s homepage and click Start Group.
On the next screen, you are given a telephone number for your group to use. Write this number down, or save it in your phone. Before adding friends to your group, you must enter your email address and choose a password. Click Create Account when finished.
Your phone will receive a verification text. Enter the code from the text on the next screen.
After verifying your number, click the blue Add Members button on the right of the screen. Enter your friends’ contact information to add them to you group. You can also import numbers from your Gmail contact list.
Once set up, sending a group text is just a matter of texting your group’s number. To conference call, dial the number and it will call everyone in your group.
Your group’s number can be disconnected at any time by sending a text to the number that just says #end. You can also you text commands to add members (#add) or start a new group (#new).
For iPhone users, Groupme has its own app, available in the App Store.
GroupMe is a great tool for organizing events, collaborating with a group, or just keeping up with family. One major drawback to the program is it only works with US phone numbers.
Everyone in your group must have a US phone number for the service to work. In a global, digital community, we can only hope the service will eventually offer international options as well.
