Google’s daily incorporation of Kenyans and also taking of the market seriously is just increasing. It has today launched Gmail-to-SMS service which they say is Kenya’s first PC chat to cell text service, which will allow Gmail users in the country to send and receive chat messages – for free – as text messages. The service is in partnership with Safaricom. Mhhhhhh!!
With SMS-in-Chat, a Gmail user can send a text message from the desktop interface directly to phones via SMS. In return, these contacts may respond to these text messages and the response will appear in the original sender’s Gmail interface.
Google’s Business Development Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, Isis Nyong’o confirmed that the service was being launched in Kenya after successful launches in Senegal and Ghana, in partnership with Safaricom. The service will only be exclusive to Safaricom clients
SMS in Gmail Chat is great for the African consumer since the earnings in this part of the world is still averagely low. Google is seeing the market as vibrant and promises to exploit the market. I hope they will exploit the market without exploiting the consumers.
Google says thats the service will eventually support all cellular networks and the standard network charges will apply for any communication from phone to desktop, but SMS in Gmail Chat is free from desktop to phone.
How to get going with Gmail-to-SMS
- Log into your Gmail account. In the Send SMS box above Chat, enter the phone number you want to send a SMS to.
- In the dialog box, enter Contact name of the SMS recipient and check that country and phone number are correct. Then, click Save.
- Type your message in the chat window and hit Enter.
- Your message will be sent to the phone number you entered.
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