As we draw closer to putting Mobivity into Beta, I thought it would be a good time (or a little late) to start a blog. Over the next few days I will write about what it is we do, and will keep a running journal as we get this company off the ground.

They say the best products/services/inventions solve a problem. I decided to build this service out of frustration. I had this idea for putting an SMS short code on real estate “for sale” signs. The person who sees the sign would send the keyword “house” and a 5 digit number to get more info about the house they were at. They would then receive either an MMS message with photos and information, or get pushed to a mobile web site with pictures and info.

As I researched this idea, I found out how difficult it would be to do this. First, I would need to get a short code for $500 per month. I didn’t need a short code! I only wanted a single keyword! As I searched for shared shortcodes, I came up with very little online. An aggregator put me in touch with one of their clients who gave me some off the wall quote @ $500 setup, $250 per month for a single keyword, and .10 per message. They would also need a few weeks to get it set up.

So I’m thinking that all I really need is a single keyword, and some service to take all incoming messages that come in for that keyword, and forward it to a web address. I can then take that message, get the details of the house, and send it back through the service to the user’s phone directly.

So I looked around for such a service, and found none. If this service existed, I would be able to sign up in less than 5 minutes, and test my new business idea for less than a few hundred bucks.

So now I see a bigger picture. If I build that service, then I can provide it to other entreprenuers & businesses, as well as use it myself for some other ideas I have.

Add to that a ton of great features, and the ability for the local sandwich shop to operate it, and you get Mobivity.

We are looking to launch mid October, depending on the speed at which the wireless carriers set up our first short code. We are currently using GSM modems on a few mobile phone numbers, and plan to open up our beta to outside users in the next few weeks.

If anyone is interested in participating, please let me know.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 3rd, 2006 at 8:03 pm and is filed under General. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.