Communicate

Twitter Promises Two-Way SMS For Australia

By Angus Kidman on February 21, 2009 at 8:59 PM

twitter.gifWhile Australian users of Twitter can send updates via SMS if they’re prepared to pay for a text to the UK, there’s currently no option for receiving updates the same way. However, in a post discussing a recent deal allowing Twitter updates to be by Canadian users, Twitter also promises that Australia is in the running for a similar service:

Stay tuned for more support all over the globe as we make progress. And fear not Australia–you’re on the list too!

How long it will take is anyone’s guess. No doubt the big issue is that Aussies receive texts at no charge, unlike US plans where the recipient typically pays (so if a deal does go ahead, it will almost certainly be single-network and very possibly tied to a particular plan).

For Whom The Bell Texts [Twitter Blog]

Tagged:

Comments

  • Quirkiest
    February 21, 2009 at 11:44 PM

    Rather than wait for the “official” Twitter SMS to come back I use TwitSMS now and it seems to work well.

    Permalink Reply
  • ljraggy
    February 22, 2009 at 1:28 AM

    A SMS or TXT to the UK is 25c like all SMS’s through Most Carriers, But double check as some even want to charge for VoIP DATA calls with mobile rates.

    Permalink Reply
  • Honeycut
    February 22, 2009 at 2:25 PM

    For the record – I use twitsms as well (No, I don’t work for them).

    It actually gives me better control than I had over sms using twitter’s sms service.

    Permalink Reply
  • Cy starkman
    February 23, 2009 at 3:06 AM

    I know not everyone has more advanced phones, but on iphone and surely on winmo and android you can get a full blown app and send and receive via the mobile net rather than via SMS and skip the 50-75c per to the UK? I use a twitter app on the iPhone.

    Permalink Reply
  • Angus Kidman
    February 23, 2009 at 4:49 AM

    Yes, if you’ve got the mobile net you’ve got many more options — but not everyone has. Even people who do sometimes end up stuck with GPRS, which kills many on-deck applications. Hence the demand for text.

    Permalink Reply
  • Pavement
    March 22, 2009 at 11:14 AM

    Can someone please tell me the exact number I put in my mobile to send updates to Twitter from Australia. I have tried varied versions using the country code but still haven’t mastered it.
    Thanks

    Permalink Reply
  • Angus Kidman
    March 22, 2009 at 10:31 PM

    +447624801423. The plus sign is important. Bear in mind you’ll be charged whatever rate is set for international texts on your phone plan.

    Permalink Reply
  • Andrew Eross
    September 22, 2009 at 1:56 PM

    For sending Tweets via local SMS in Australia, you can use Chime (http://getchime.com), which is free

    Permalink Reply

Post Your Comments

Got something to say? There are two ways to comment:

1. Guests

Click here to comment instantly.

2. Facebook Users

Click below to comment using your Facebook account.

We're looking for comments that are interesting, substantial or highly amusing. If your comments are excessively self-promotional, obnoxious, or even worse, boring, you will be banned from commenting. All comments are moderated.