If they aren't registered, we send them a text message asking for them to reply with their phone number. Any e-mails thereafter to [YOUR_NUMBER]@thinbox.com are automatically forwarded.
Thanks for the feedback though. Admittedly, we could have put more time into the landing page.
Make sure you make it easy to cancel, e.g. instructions in the first text for how to block your number from the registry. People who do not have a texting plan in favor of iMessage, Skype, etc. but do not block all incoming texts by default will thank you. I got a text like this recently from AIM mobile-something-or other from some weird spammy address. The second message contained instructions on how to block any future requests, but afaik I'm going to see all the messages that were sent in the meantime on my bill at $.10/ea– I'm glad I wasn't roaming, since the price essentially triples.
How is it different than me just texting them directly asking for their email? I suspect they'd be more likely to send their email to me than to some random company trying to act as a middleman.
The idea is that it can happen automatically and seamlessly. We are planning to release a mobile sync app that will automatically "fill in the blanks" in your contact list. Basically, for any contact that has a mobile number and no email address, we'll populate the field with [Number]@thinbox.com
borplk, the idea is that all of your contacts are contactable through the action of e-mailing them via their thinbox address. Even if they aren't registered, they will still be contacted (via SMS asking them to register) by the unified action of e-mailing them.
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How on earth do you get people's email addresses? My initial instinct is that your are just farming phone numbers...
If they aren't registered, we send them a text message asking for them to reply with their phone number. Any e-mails thereafter to [YOUR_NUMBER]@thinbox.com are automatically forwarded.
Thanks for the feedback though. Admittedly, we could have put more time into the landing page.
Make sure you make it easy to cancel, e.g. instructions in the first text for how to block your number from the registry. People who do not have a texting plan in favor of iMessage, Skype, etc. but do not block all incoming texts by default will thank you. I got a text like this recently from AIM mobile-something-or other from some weird spammy address. The second message contained instructions on how to block any future requests, but afaik I'm going to see all the messages that were sent in the meantime on my bill at $.10/ea– I'm glad I wasn't roaming, since the price essentially triples.
The STOP command is mandated. I hope these guys get someone that actually knows how SMS works from the legal side.
How is it different than me just texting them directly asking for their email? I suspect they'd be more likely to send their email to me than to some random company trying to act as a middleman.
The idea is that it can happen automatically and seamlessly. We are planning to release a mobile sync app that will automatically "fill in the blanks" in your contact list. Basically, for any contact that has a mobile number and no email address, we'll populate the field with [Number]@thinbox.com
"fill in the blanks" makes your own service partly redundant doesn't it? And how many of my contacts will be using it?
borplk, the idea is that all of your contacts are contactable through the action of e-mailing them via their thinbox address. Even if they aren't registered, they will still be contacted (via SMS asking them to register) by the unified action of e-mailing them.
'Registered'? With whom? I didn't register with anyone as far as I know, yet I received an email (on one of my 5 email addresses).
This looks like a very nice database to sell to 3rd parties.