Yahoo launches RSS via SMS

As part of an update to its alerts feature, Yahoo added a feature that allows users to get RSS results via SMS. The free service will send a message to your phone with every new item posted to an RSS feed. The feature works with any RSS feed, but is likely most useful for feeds used to connect small groups of people (group projects, clubs, etc) where volume will be lower than on a news site.

Since normal text messaging fees apply (though there is no fee from Yahoo) make sure to use this feature wisely.

Missing girl sends SMS to mother

"Someone was following me and I just don't remember what happened. I just woke up in a basement. I'm scared."

Other messages have stated she was forced to do, "disgusting stuff" and that she is going to be moved to New York. Other details of the case are not public. So far only SMS messages have made it through, no calls have taken place. The article has not mentioned why the cell carrier hasn't pinpointed her location.

Google SMS adds live sports scores

Google updated its SMS search tool to include live sports scores. Competing SMS search service 4INFO has supported this feature for quite some time. To get a sports score via Google SMS, compose a new text message and put a team name or college in the body. Send it to 46645 (GOOGL).

We tested it out by sending the text, 'Duke' in hope of getting the latest scores from Duke's men's basketball team in the NCAA tournament. It worked, they beat George Washington 74-61 on a game earlier today. However we'll stick to using 4INFO because its message back included more info, in this case a box score for the George Washington vs. Duke game.

twttr launches as social networking over SMS

Podcasting startup Odeo launched a mobile focused side project dubbed twttr this weekend. The free service brings social networking features to regular SMS. Unlike Dodgeball, twttr is not limited to a select set of cities.

twttr is accessible through the short code 40404, after registering your status is set by simply sending a message to the short code. Your friends can choose to follow your updates live (they will get a message when you change status) or only when they want to know what you're up to. Users can choose to follow all their friends live or pick and choose. There is a list of keywords used to control the service app entirely through SMS.

There is also a web based interface, which might be useful for users without unlimited text messaging plans. While turned off by default, there is a feature to share your status messages online (at www.twttr.com/yourusername).

PayPal Mobile soft launches

PayPal has quietly launched a new mobile enabled version of its fund trading service (we hinted it was coming last month). Customers must first activate the mobile component of PayPal by heading online. After that you'll be able to send money and check your account status by texting 729725 (PAYPAL).

Security is obviously an issue, but every transaction with PayPal Mobile requires a PIN that you set up when activating the mobile features. PayPal will also come back and ask for confirmation via an automated call for each transaction. During the sign up process PayPal will call the phone number you set up to make sure it's you. It's automated and you need to input your PIN and if it matches what you put online your account will be activated.

There has been no official announcement yet and it appears things are still changing and slightly buggy (we had to hunt around a bit to find the right place to sign up). Currently the service is only for customers in the US, Canada or UK.

eBay launches SMS alerts

eBay has launched a service to alert buyers via SMS of events in auctions they are participating in. Text messaging is just one of three new alerts eBay launched, but is the only one available today. Alerts via phone call and IM will launch next month.

Once signed up for text alerts for a given auction, messages are sent when you are out bid or the auction is ending soon. In the case that you're outbid, you can re-bid by replying to the message. The SMS alerts feature costs $.25 per auction for up to 10 alert messages. The fees appear on your wireless bill.

eBay also runs a free WAP site at wap.ebay.com that lets users search and bid on items.

Virgin Mobile launches Ghost Town, SMS book

Virgin Mobile USA has announced a short story named Ghost Town that will be delivered exclusively through text messages. Two messages will be sent per day over a five week period. The first messages will be sent out on August 14th. The promotion is aimed at raising awareness of teen homelessness.

Readers will also have the opportunity to determine how the story ends, choosing between two options via text message poll. The novella focuses on the experiences of a 17-year-old boy who, with the support of his counselor and girlfriend, is able to rise up and overcome many of the hardships he faces being homeless.

3jam launches reply-to-all SMS

A startup tired of limited group features in standard SMS has launched a reply-to-all service dubbed 3jam. With 3jam users can send a text message to a group and the twist is that replies to that message then go back to the whole group. Phones already let you send a message to more than one person but there is not a way to see who else may have gotten the message or to send a reply to everyone.

Messages can be sent online or from a handset. There is no software required so 3jam is compatible with any SMS compatible handset.

3jam is currently live and was officially launched at DEMOfall this morning. It's free to use though normal text message fees do apply (if you send a message to 5 friends it counts as one sent message however). When asked about their business model, 3jam told MobileTracker that the company hopes to partner with wireless carriers and get a cut of the standard text message fees.

Verizon Wireless joins SMS price increase club

Sprint Nextel started things off by increasing the amount it charges for SMS messages. Cingular dove in next and angered a lot of customers by sticking to its early termination fee despite a 50% price increase for a central service. This week Verizon Wireless announced a similar move, text messages will cost $.15 instead of $.10. This fee applies to both incoming and outgoing messages. T-Mobile remains the only national carrier to keep $.10 texting.

Verizon Wireless' price increase goes live on March 1st. Customers who subscribe to a messaging plan will not see any increase. The FAQ does not make it clear if customers who do not have a text messaging plan will be able to opt out of their contracts without having to pay an early termination fee. Sprint allowed this for a short period of time, but Cingular did not. Some Verizon Wireless customers have reported that customer service reps are offering to disable text messaging without a fee as that is the only portion of service that has had its pricing change.

The actual language in the contract seems to back up what these customers are reporting. You can read the current price change policies of Verizon Wireless, Cingular, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile below.

Got mobile news?

If you’ve got mobile related news or opinion, I’d like to know. Don’t hesitate to send releases, stories, ideas, thoughts, comments and complaints through to me at ewan@smstextnews.com.

I am, by default, INTERESTED, if your news is related to mobile. Don’t hesitate to send anything through to me. I won’t bark, nor will I yell, kick or scream. My mission here is to blog mobile related news — so by whacking me off an email or sending me your press release, you’ll be helping!

- If I haven’t responded

Sponsor SMS Text News

SMS Text News is one of the mobile industry’s most influential blogs, tracking news and delivering informed opinion on a daily basis.

Launched in January 2006, the site has niche appeal, attracting mobile industry analysts, executives, operators, equipment manufacturers, angel/VC investors, entrepreneurs and mobile geeks. In addition, the site is monitored continually by mainstream media and other influential bloggers.

The SMS Text News feed is fully available on the web and as a result, it is republished and streamed by hundreds of other websites and mobile related services, including a huge array of company intranets. Therefore, an accurate reader statistic is extremely difficult to calculate – a rough guestimate puts the SMS Text News monthly audience at 3 times unique hosts.

We guestimate our audience at around 150,000+ visitors per month.

We work directly with our sponsors — so we’d be delighted to discuss how we can work together. In the first instance please drop an email to ewan@smstextnews.com with your enquiry or to request a media pack.

Ewan has normally got his Nokia E61i on, wherever he is, so you should generally expect a quick response.

Unlock public toilets in Finland by text message

Authorities, wanting to try and avoid damage to public toilets have come up with an interesting solution. In order to use the toilet, you have to text ‘OPEN’ to a shortcode — which immediately opens the door. Provided, one imagines, no one is actually inside at the time.

In this way, if someone damages the facilities, authorities have the relevant mobile numbers to follow-up. That won’t work too well if the person’s using an unregistered pay-as-you-go sim card — but generally speaking, it’s hoped that this should act as a deterrent to would-be vandals. Cool idea!

You could get some rather interesting statistics from this too, couldn’t you?